LAHORE: The Harbanspura police lodged a criminal case against some 18/20 members of the land mafia for allegedly demolishing the boundary walls and rooms of a senior journalist’s under-construction house at Journalist Housing Society.

The police also arrested four members of the mafia red-handed when they attacked several senior journalists including Amir Mirza, Muzamil Hussain Gujjar, Azhar Mahmood Faizi and Amir Sohail.

According to the FIR, the house of senior journalist Ahmad Humayun was under construction when the land mafia men carrying weapons and clubs turned up there.

They entered the premises of the house, threatened him and then demolished the boundary walls and rooms of the house.

The intruders tortured the labourers and warned of serious consequences, forcing them to leave the place.

On being alerted, some senior journalists rushed to the site to help their fellow Ahmad Humayun. As they reached there, the armed men attacked, and injured some of them while holding them hostage at gunpoint.

The higher authorities took notice of the incident and issued an order to the police for immediate action against the attackers.

Lahore Press Club President Azam Chaudhry, Secretary Abdul Majeed Sajid and other office bearers declared the incident unfortunate saying an infamous land mafia in the name of ‘Pathan group’ had a criminal record of occupying the properties of the locals.

They said the land mafia had allegedly been targeting journalists’ houses in the society for the last many years.

They hailed the government authorities and the senior police officers for timely action.

Four of the armed men have been arrested and sent behind bars, the LPC office bearers said adding that the FIR has also been registered against them under non-bailable and other offences on the complaint of senior journalist Ahmad Humayun Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023