KARACHI, Dec 19: Confusion continues to prevail in the city government and the towns pertaining to cases relating to title of land, lease, transfer and registration of properties, etc.

The problem persists since the creation of new local body system. The Nazim of Lyari Town has sought the help of the Sindh government for the resolution of the issue which has become a bone of contention.

Inquiries show that thousands of people have almost been visiting towns almost daily for verification of their property papers, but the town officers are unable to give them a satisfactory reply as the matter is yet to be resolved.

The delay in the registration of property documents has become a great source of concern for residents.

The matter pertaining to transfer of land to municipal towns was raised by the Nazim of Lyari Town in September last when hundreds of residents frequently visited the town office for verification of their lease papers.

A municipal official confirmed that after Aug 14, work on issuance of property documents had almost stopped as the matter of land management is yet to be resolved despite the fact that the SLGO 2001 clearly envisages assignment of “Municipal Land & Estates” to the talukas and towns.

However, contrary to this, the defunct KMC’s land and estate departments have been merged in the City Government and officers have been posted to control the land (lease) and estate (markets) in various towns.

The Nazim of Lyari Town had also sent a communication to the city government, seeking its assistance for an early settlement of the issue because it was creating an unrest among the people.

According to him, the clause 53 (3-1) of the Ordinance clearly states: Taluka (Town) officer (Municipal Regulations) shall be responsible for licensing, management of municipal land, properties, facilities and enterprises and enforcement of relevant municipal laws, rules and bye-laws.

The clause 54 (a) clearly defines the functions and powers of the TMA which states that “he shall prepare ... plans for the Taluka (Town) in collaboration with union councils, including plans for land-use, zoning and functions for which TMA is responsible”.

The clause 54 (d) further states that TMA shall exercise control over land-use, land-subdivision, land development and zoning by public and private sectors for any purpose.

This includes agriculture, industry, commerce, markets, shopping and other employment centres, residential, recreational, parks, entertainment, passenger and freight transport and transit stations.

In an another communication, the Nazim brought the matter to notice to the secretary, local government, but no response has been received.

In a recent communication to the Sindh minister for local bodies, Dewan Mohammad Yusuf, the Nazim of Lyari Town, Abdul Khalique Juma, reminded him of his earlier letters sent to the city government and secretary, local government regarding the transfer of municipal land to the towns in pursuance of section 53 (3-1) and 54 (a to d) of the SLGO.

But he regretted that no response had been received. However, he added that District Officer Land Revenue had communicated his views to the Nazims of all towns of the city, saying the management of municipal land would remain with the City District Government.

Mr Juma said in fact he had misinterpreted Section 180 (a) of the SLGO which actually pertains to transfer of physical stock of properties.

“It does not say about management of municipal land,” he added.

“We are of the view that the City District Government has to deal with revenue land and estates and the municipal land and estates are to be maintained by the towns.”

The Lyari Nazim in his communication to the minister said the matter was now brought to his knowledge with a request that appropriate directives would be communicated to the secretary of local government for implementing the SLGO 2001 in its true perspective.

He categorically stated that municipal land and estates departments, along with relevant staff, be transferred to the towns of the city in the light of provisions of the SLGO-2001 and in the spirit of devolution.

An aggrieved resident told this reporter that he was running from pillar to post for the past few weeks for the regularization and verification of his property documents but there was nobody to tell him as to who was the competent authority.

After the introduction of the new local body system, the local registration office in the district had been closed.