LAHORE: Anti-encroachment operation in the areas of Bagheechi and Bagh Gul Begum, adjacent to Miani Sahib Graveyard, has been temporarily stopped after the residents of the area approached Deputy Commissioner Saleha Saeed with ‘ownership documents’.

Following Ms Saeed’s directions, the city administration constituted a committee, headed by the assistant commissioner (City), to examine the residents’ documents in depth and verifying the same with the related revenue record, total land acquired for Miani Sahib as per original plans, measurement of the existing land of the graveyard, houses/land in the area of Bagh Gul Begum, Bagheechi etc.

“We had a meeting with the DC today who appeared to be very kind while hearing us. During the meeting, we showed her the documents proving us as owners of the properties/houses we are living in since decades. She (DC) is of the view that the residents whose documents prove to be genuine would not be evicted,” Shoaib Ali, a resident of the area, told Dawn.

Mr Ali added the residents had started submitting documents to the committee which would soon start verifying the same with the revenue department.

Residents approach DC with ownership documents

“We are real owners as we have all relevant record. We don’t know how our land/area was marked as part of the graveyard. And soon everyone will know that we are the owners,” he claimed.

According to a spokesman for the city admin, the DC also visited the area on Monday and assured the residents of justice.

The garden was established by Gul Begum, a courtesan whom Maharaja Ranjit Singh married and she was known as Rani Gul Begum. The construction of the garden was started in 1855 and it was completed in her life time. She died in 1866.

LDA: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Amna Imran Khan issued directions for her office to computerise the record related to court cases/litigation besides developing software for linking Law Directorate with all the wings and other directorates of the LDA.

The software will provide up-to-date status of the court cases, according to a spokesman. She also directed the officers of the Law Directorate to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the relevant laws and draft replies for the court cases with complete preparation. She sought posting of a full-time director for further revamp of the record sifting directorate.

Meanwhile, an LDA team launched a crackdown on illegal excavation of land in the LDA City and registered five cases with Kahna Nao Police Station against the suspects involved in theft of earth.

POWER THEFT: A team, comprising officials of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) and City administration, launched an operation against the power thieves at Jia Bagga. The team disconnected 32 illegal connections, removed 10 bogus and tampered meters. It also got arrested two men for stealing electricity.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2018