LAHORE, Jan 26: The Model Town Society claimed on Saturday to have stopped an alleged land grabber from occupying a six-kanal plot in B-Block.
An official of the society told Dawn that litigation between two claimants to the land had been going on for 1960 and was pending before the Punjab Chief Settlement Commissioner. Another person, with the help of his accomplices, attempted to occupy the plot by constructing some portion of the boundary wall around it, he said.
MTS President Tahir Kardar told Dawn that a citizen namely Abdul Mannan, who claims himself to be the owner of the property, reached the plot along with his three dozen men and labourers around 3am and started constructing the boundary wall.
After being informed, the MTS security officials reached the spot and stopped Mr Mannan from constructing the wall without official permission. Meanwhile, the society office-bearers, the Model Town police and division SP also reached the spot.
Mr Kardar said two claimants Mrs Misbah Sofi and Muhammad Ismail had been in litigation for the plot possession; each claiming ownership of the plot. The case had been lying pending with the settlement department since 1960.
“The matter is sub judice and a third person has tried to construct the wall without the society’s permission. Mr Mannan has shown no evidence and documents to prove his claim,” Mr Kardar said. He said the society with he help of the local police had stopped Mr Mannan from constructing the wall and would not allow him any illegal construction.
According to Mr Kardar, the settlement department had through an open auction sold the plot first to Mr Ismail in March 1960 and later mistakenly sold the same plot to a woman, Misbah Sofi. “Now both the claimants are fighting their cases.”
Security in-charge Tahir Shah told Dawn that the party had tried to construct the wall twice. According to the MTS bylaws, the construction work required a no-objection certificate, membership and approval of map by the society, he said.
A spot visit revealed that the plot was a corner one and situated in front of the Linear Park with a market value of approximately Rs12 million. The wall was constructed up to three feet on two sides and some men and labourers of Mr Mannan were present there by 5pm.
Around 10 to 15 security officials also were present led by the security in-charge to avoid any untoward situation.