KARACHI, July 25: The land mafia, notorious for grabbing government and private land wherever available to it, is very active also in Orangi and Ittehad towns.

In a latest case, the mafia has resorted to grabbing a piece of land in Raja Tanveer Colony graveyard. The plot, measuring about 2,400 square yard has been sold out to an NGO and despite protest by people of the area against the illegal transaction, the henchmen of the mafia gave possession of the plot to the buyers.

The graveyard has so no boundary wall, watchman or gorkan (grave digger). Owing to the local people’s mutual differences, a caretaker committee for the graveyard could not also be formed so far.

Trespassing and encroachment of others’ estate by influential people is also common practice in the two towns. In some areas of Baldia town, the mafia would make it clear to a new land buyer to start construction forthwith or lose the property. Usually, it would not allow him more than a month or two.

These areas are like tribal agencies where decisions are taken on the basis of might.

It has been observed that the people displaced by the Oct 8 earthquake in the country are potential buyers of the land in these areas and the mafia is fleecing them.