HYDERABAD, March 16: A landholder of Mirpurkhas has accused an officer of the Board of Revenue, Sindh, of issuing threats to him and trying to take over possession of his land.

He appealed to the Sindh governor, chief minister, chief secretary, IGP and other authorities concerned to provide him protection.

The landholder, Shafi Mohammad Junejo, belonging to Mohammad Ramzan Junejo Goth, Digri taluka, was speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Sunday.

He warned if no action was taken against the officer, he and his supporters would observe hunger strike.

Mr Junejo said he had taken 35 acres of land on five-year lease for Rs425,000 from Mohammad Yousuf and Nisar Ahmad, sons of Allah Bachayo, in Deh 152. The lease would expire on Oct 14, 2007, he added.

He said the BoR officer, Liaquat Randhawa was trying to purchase the land by force from the owners.

On his suit against the sale of the land, the court of the third senior civil judge, Mirpurkhas, issued a stay order, he added. He also showed the stay order to journalists.

He said Randhawa was pressuring the Mukhtiarkar and Tapedar to change the land record and was also threatening his peasants through his armed men.

Mr Junejo has also sent letters to the prime minister and other authorities concerned, demanding an inquiry against the officer.