Landowners protest non-payment for acquired land in Mardan

MARDAN: The landowners staged a protest rally on Wednesday against the non-payment for land acquired by the government in 2009 for the construction of Abdul Wali Khan University, Agricultural University, and Bacha Khan Medical College.

The rally, led by Usman Ghani, Naeem Khan, and Zakir Khan, was attended by a large number of landowners. Following the rally, they held a press conference at the Mardan Press Club.The landowners from Khora Banda, Plateau, Mayar, and Darbu Kali demanded immediate payment as per a decision of the Supreme Court. They highlighted that 2,500 kanals of land was taken from them in 2009, yet only Rs66 million have been paid out of the promised Rs9 billion.

They said that despite a 2020 ruling from the Peshawar High Court and the Supreme Court ordering payment, the government has failed to comply. Additionally, they claimed that promised jobs have not been provided, calling it a significant injustice.

The protesters emphasised that 5,000 kanals were acquired from 12,000 victims at high prices, leading to the demolition of ancestral graveyards, homes, and mosques.“We fought a 15-year legal battle, and though the Supreme Court ruled in our favour, the government is still refusing to pay,” they stated.

The landowners warned that if immediate payment was not made, they would stage a sit-in with their families in front of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and block access to the institution.