THATTA: Nasser Hussain Lootah, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based business tycoon belonging to the royal family, has been summoned by Thatta Senior Civil Judge Jehangir Khan to explain the alleged violation of a court order for maintaining a status quo in a matter involving 5,222 acres in the Jhimpir area.

Mr Lootah, as well as his estate manager, Khalid Mehmood, Thatta SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi and the Jherruck DSP and SHO have been asked to appear in court on Saturday after a group of Marri tribesmen having claim to a 100-acre portion of the land informed the court of the senior civil judge that they were being forcibly evicted from the disputed property in violation of the status quo ordered by the court.

It is worth noting here that the land in Deh 7/1, Kohistan, had been allotted in recent years by the Sindh government to the Lootah Estate for agriculture and game (bird hunting) purposes. Sources privy to the Lootah Estate said that the company had engaged some Marri tribesmen as peasants some time back but they moved a court to lay claim to a 100-acre portion of the land. During the litigation process, a clash between the Marris — mostly residents of Pir Bux Marri village — and Lootah Estate employees took place when the latter tried to dislodge the peasants.

It was reported that the Sindh government was made to cancel the allotment to defuse tension.

As the confrontation was highlighted by the media, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the matter, which is pending adjudication till date.

In the meantime, the Marris moved the court of Thatta senior civil judge, who ordered a status quo in the matter. The Marris against approached the judge with the complaint of being forcibly evicted by the Lootah Estate management.

The judge took up the matter on Friday and issued notices to the respondents for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the revenue department on a directive issued by the Thatta district administration has constituted a team to demarcate the land allotted to the Lootah Estate. The report submitted by the team would eventually be submitted to the relevant provincial authorities.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2015

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