KARACHI: The Supreme Court, in its interim order in the Karachi law and order implementation case on Tuesday, said that transactions relating to transfer of state land in the absence of reconstruction of record had encouraged the menace of land grabbing—a basic cause of the poor law and order situation.
The Supreme Court’s five- member bench, hearing a case for the implementation of the apex court’s earlier order in a suo motu case related to the law and order situation in Karachi, directed director general and other officials of the Rangers to submit more comprehensive report about raids conducted by the agency in terms of the earlier order passed by the court on November 26.
The bench was headed by Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali with Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Khilji Arif Hussain, Amir Hani Muslim, and Athar Saeed as members.
The order, which constitutes ten pages, says that the provincial chief secretary, under his supervision, shall ensure completion of reconstruction process of the revenue record in Sindh in terms of directives of the Sindh High Court within three months from today.
The chief secretary was also ordered to produce detailed list of persons involved and complete details of the lands converted from 30 years to 99 years lease in the province after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He shall also provide documentary proof that no other alteration other than mentioned in the proposed list has been effected, which after examination by the court, if necessary, could be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities for further inquiry.
Bench observed that the revenue record is required to be constructed within three years but despite the lapse of more than five years it has not been done.
The board of revenue, by abusing its authority, has allowed transactions relating to transfer of state land, which prima-facie, must have caused huge financial loss to the exchequer, particularly, in the absence of reconstruction of record and has encouraged the menace of land grabbing, one basic cause of the poor law and order situation, said the short order.
The bench directed the deputy commissioners and district coordination officers of the province to ensure that the entire revenue record of all the districts is kept in the custody of Mukhtiakars in terms of the directives passed by the Sindh High Court and shall not be removed from their offices.
The bench also observed that Advocate General Sindh Abdul Fatah Malik has assured that all such criminals, who have been illegally released on parole, will be arrested for which a summary has already been submitted to the chief minister.
Moreover, the bench observed that Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan has assured compliance of directives regarding delimitation of the constituencies.
The bench observed that the process will be completed in shortest possible time, after due procedure and taking on board all stakeholders and a comprehensive report will be submitted for the perusal of the court.
