GUJRAT, Sept 10: Kunjah police have registered a case against 16 people, including a union council (UC) nazim, for cutting trees from official land on the recommendation of the Khanki headworks sub-engineer. The UC nazim, however, disputes the allegation, saying he was being victimised for his litigation against the government.

Police took action after an inquiry by the Gujrat district coordination officer (DCO) proved the accused were involved in tree theft.

Amanullah Sandhu, of Jassoki, lodged a complaint with the chief minister office in July, saying that Goleki UC Nazim Safdar Mumtaz Sandhu had stolen shisham and acacia or kikar trees at Khanki headworks besides illegally occupying 68 acres of the Irrigation Department for the last eight years.

The chief minister office directed the district police officer (DPO) and the DCO to probe into the matter.

Revenue Executive District Officer (EDO) Akbar Khan, who probed the matter on the orders of the DCO, said the accused had cut and sold 500 trees in the last six years. The EDO also said the accused had encroached upon the state land and now they were trying to retain it through lawsuit.

The EDO said initially the encroachers might have got the land on yearly lease. He said the names of Safdar Mumtaz Sandhu, his brothers Sikandar Mumtaz and Asad Mumtaz, two cousins Ajmal and Asif and Ghulam Husain and Akram were registered as owners of the land in the revenue files, which was against the rules.

The EDO recommended a case against the UC nazim and his accomplices for cutting trees and ordered his sub-ordinate to take possession of the state land.

Kunjah police registered an FIR against 16 people, including Sandhu, Muhammad Afzal, Rizwan, Aamir Husain, Imran, Amanullah, Muhammad Aslam, Ejaz Ahmed, Fayaz Ahmed, Muhammad Rafique and others.

Revenue officials said they would get back the land soon.

UC Nazim Sandhu, however, claimed the government was taking action against him to avenge his petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) wherein he had challenged government’s move regarding the formation of reconciliatory committees at UC levels. The LHC stayed the formation of committees.