DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Anti-Corruption Establishment, Lahore, has summoned 10 people, including former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari, in an alleged land grab case on Tuesday (today).

Others ‘involved’ in the case include Rujhan assistant commissioner, area patwari, Zahid Mazari, Sher Muhammad Mazari , Manoj Kumar, dafedars of Border Military Police Kashif and Fahad.

Sources told Dawn the plaintiff in this case is Manoj Kumar of Kashmor, Sindh, who had won lease for state land years ago but was still struggling to get its possession. Instead of giving him the land, the accused had allegedly been threatening him and using influence against him.

Talking to Dawn, former deputy speaker MPA Dost Muhammad Mazari denied all charges, saying it was a politically motivated matter.

He said Rujhan AC Shabir Leghari had sent a report about alleged grabbing of thousands of acres of government land by me and my family. “How is it possible?”

He said the assistant commissioner had done so in reaction to exposing of his corruption.

Dost Mazari said his tribe had always donated to the government in difficult times and it was our history.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2022