KARACHI, Feb 25: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Saturday paid a surprise visit to Scheme-33 and its adjoining areas and issued orders on public complaints against land mafia.

He assured the people that strict action would be taken against land mafia operating in the area and said police and government functionaries supporting them will be terminated from service.

The chief minister said in Karachi especially, the land mafia and encroachment groups have occupied government land worth billions of rupees while government and police personnel are allegedly involved in it.

He announced that stringent measures would be taken to get the valuable government land vacated from the mafia through rule of law while those patronising them will not be pardoned.

On the occasion, hundreds of people, who gathered there, gave names to the chief minister of mafia people and their patrons and said they have occupied thousands of acres of land on both sides from Sohrab Goth to Sabzimandi while they enjoy the patronage of officials and police personnel.

Dr Arbab said if police personnel were found involved, they would be terminated and action be taken as per law.

He told the people that no one is above law. He said the function of police is to provide protection to people and not to indulge in loot and plunder.

On the occasion, the chief minister issued necessary directives to the CCPO Karachi and the DIG Police and said that all encroachments be got removed.

Later, he visited the Mazar of Pir Fazal Hussain.—APP