LAHORE: The Punjab Cooperatives Board for Liquidation (PCBL) on Friday retrieved 46 kanals of precious land from the possession of Bahria Town.

The PCBL land was retrieved on the orders of PCBL Chairman Muhammad Zaman Wattoo after various civil miscellaneous petitions were dismissed as withdrawn by the cooperative judge of the Lahore High Court.

In the cooperative petition -- the PCBL secretary vs Encroachers -- the judgement says the counsel for the applicants does not want to press these petitions and seeks permission to withdraw the same.

“The CMs dismissed as withdrawn. However, injunctive order granted by this court on July 15 is extended only till Sept 15,” states the order issued on Sept 9.

The PCBL chairman on Friday ordered that various CMs had been dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated Sept 9 passed in cooperative petition No 86555 titled PCBL secretary vs Encroachers etc.

“Consequent action for retrieval of PCBL properties/ land be taken immediately and without further loss of time,” the order said.

The land was retrieved on the spot by PCBL’s Lahore revenue officer Muhammad Iqbal and security supervisor Amjad Iqbal, along with a team.

Sources in the board told Dawn the land belonged to the PCBL and Bahria Town had constructed Bahria Grand Hotel and some other establishments on it. Some of the hotels were under construction, they added.

The value of retrieved land is stated to be more than three billion rupees.

Sources say the retrieved land is situated in specific khasra numbers that belongs to the PCBL.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2022