LAHORE, July 6: A ground on the Katcha Hall Road known as Nehru Park, which ceased to exist long ago because of an alleged illegal occupation, has now been converted into ‘full-fledged’ commercial buildings that had been raised without approval of the authorities concerned.
The structures had been raised in ‘violation’ of the building by-laws as well. The locality on the Katcha Hall Road was renamed as Liaquat Bagh after partition, but it is still commonly known by its old name.According to the findings of the Punjab Ombudsman in this regard, a man, Shaukat Ali by name, after occupying four-kanal state land raised construction there and Abdul Hameed converted his residential building into a commercial one without approval.
“Although the Tehsil Officer of Data Ganj Bakhsh Town produced copy of the sale deed (1974), it has not been incorporated in the revenue record so far. As for the four-kanal state land stated to be in unlawful occupation of Shahid and Riaz, the TMO should direct occupants of Khasras No 1585, 1586 and 1587 of Mauza Mozang to produce ownership deed and in case they fail to do so, the TMO is directed to proceed against them under the law.”
The ombudsman further noted that in view of serious nature of complaints, the tehsil municipal administration should initiate legal action if the complainant points out some other encroachments on the state land. He also directed the officers concerned to take action against the ‘corrupt officials’ supporting the ‘qabza mafia’ and make efforts to get the ‘expensive’ government land vacated.
The ombudsman disposed of the petition on the request of one Akif Jameel, a resident of Hall Road. Akif told Dawn that some milkmen had occupied the four-kanal park and with the passage of time, got constructed residential quarters. He said though the locals had filed complaints with the then Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore, the efforts did not bear fruit.
He said he got registered a case against the illegal occupants for raising the structures and also converted them into commercial buildings under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance.
Akif Jameel said the ‘illegal occupants’ especially Haji Sharif Gujjar, who is occupying two kanals, had been threatening him and his family with dire consequences for raising the issue. He has urged the chief minister to look into the matter and get the state land vacated.
DGBT Nazim Tariq Sana Bajwa told Dawn that he was not aware of the details of the case. He said he would go through the ombudsman’s order in this regard and implement it in letter and spirit.
“No illegal activity will be tolerated within the jurisdiction of the town,” he added.
