LARKANA, Nov 4: A resident of Larkana, Mohammad Anwar Channa, advocate, has filed a petition in the Sindh High Court, Larkana circuit bench, against massive encroachment in Larkana city.

In his petition, he maintained that encroachment in the city was taking on a massive scale.

Under the new setup of district government, the authorities concerned had given a free hand to members of land mafia to grab public property in their tenure only to enhance the vote bank in union councils, constituency and the units in the town.

Construction of toilets, motor garages, and ladders upon public streets is rampant in the city, causing great inconvenience to the masses, he said and added that an abandoned ‘chungi’ on station road was converted overnight into a restaurant.

Similarly, a vacant amenity plot measuring about 2000 square feet located in the heart of city (Pakistan Chowk) was occupied with the active assistance of the officials of Market police station.

He said that land mafia had trespassed the historical places, lawns, parks, gardens, rehabilitation centres and orphan centres in Larkana.

Saying that it is an open violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the people under the constitution of Pakistan, he held that no statutory rule permits to lease out any portion of the public property without conducting open auction.

The petitioner said that mostly public properties in Larkana had been leased out without conducting auction or fulfilling other formalities required under the rules.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct the respondents — taluka nazim, municipal administration Larkana, taluka municipal officer, district nazim and the DCO of Larkana — for removing all unauthorised encroachments from the public streets within two months and inform the high court.

Besides, he also said that the taluka nazim of Larkana and the taluka municipal administration, TMA should be directed to cancel lease (if any) granted in respect of ‘chungi’ on station road and amenity plot situated near Pakistan chowk be restored with its status as public property.

The petition would come up for hearing on November 16.