KARACHI, Nov 28: Justice Mushir Alam of the Sindh High Court sought comments from the army authorities in a petition moved by residents of four villages in Bin Qasim Town, Karachi.

The petitioners claimed that they were tillers and were in possession of about 2,000 acres in four goths adjacent to Deh Dhando. The land was made cultivable by their ancestors, who settled on it in 1820 and they and their heirs had undisturbed peaceful possession since.

Army personnel, they alleged, were trying to dispossess them. They have affixed 'dharis' and signposts along the four goths. The personnel claim that the land, which includes the entire green belt, had been allotted to the army. The petitioners have been dispossessed of their tube wells and dairy and poultry farms.

Justice Mushir Alam asked the Deputy Attorney General, Sajjad Ali Shah, to obtain comments from the respondent army authorities and submit them in the court on the next date of hearing.