Karachi
Land grabbers can either have mercy on this city or gear up to face the music.
These were the two options presented by a displeased chief minister, Murad Ali Shah, as he ordered the Sindh Board of Revenue (BoR) on Tuesday to immediately survey all
encroached government land and submit a report at the earliest.
"The report has to be detailed, with names of areas, size of the land, its worth and locations of those illegally grabbed,” Senior Member BoR (SMBR) Rizwan Memon was told by the CM.
The SMBR was also directed to frame a policy holding concerned police stations responsible for the government lands found occupied within their respective jurisdictions.
The CM told the SMBR that there were some reports in the media that the land mafia was still busy in 'China Cutting' activities.
“This is more than enough. For God's sake, tell them [land mafia] to have mercy on this city, otherwise I won't have any mercy on you (land mafia),’’ he urged the SMBR.
NPIW officers regularised
In what was considered a bold step taken by the CM, 701 officers appointed in 2005 in the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses (NPIW) on contracts, were ordered to be regularised.
The officers were appointed under a foreign funded project to line water courses, in grades BS-16 to BS-18. However, on completion of the project the officers’ salaries were withheld but their contracts kept on being extended by the Sindh government from time to time.
CM meets DG Rangers
Director General Sindh Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar met with the CM to discuss issues of overall law and order, on-going targeted operation and other related issues, read a statement issued by the CM House.
Quetta blast injured
During the day, Shah was reported to have visited the Quetta Civil Hospital bomb blast’ injured brought to the Aga Khan Hospital for treatment a night earlier. The injured were assured of the Sindh government’s support and cooperation by the CM, who also prayed for the victims’ early recovery.
The attendants and family members were further assured that the government would support and assist them in whatever way possible.
Court’s security reviewed
Accompanied by city police chief, Mushtaq Mehar, CM Murad Ali Shah during a visit to the entry and exit points of the City Courts was briefed about security measures taken by the police in the aftermath of the Quetta blast.
Shah also met with former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) and assured him that the government would provide necessary security to the lawyers’ community.
SHCBA’s general secretary Abdul Mubeen Lakho and Sindh Bar Council’s (SBC) Vice President Salahuddin Ahmed were also apprised of the security arrangements made by the government. On his way back from the city courts the CM examined the Paper Market area and expressed displeasure over heaps of garbage along the road. "I would again visit this area, if conditions are found to be similar serious action would be taken," he warned. He then stopped at the DJ Science College - the CM’s alma mater - and met with the college’s principal. "The college attracted me while I was passing by so I thought I should stop and pay a visit," he told the principal.
Bohra, Ismaili delegations
An eight-member delegation of the Bohra Community comprising Juzer Zakiuddin (president), Mustansir, Shaikh Kamal and others met with Shah to felicitate him on his appointment as provincial chief executive.
A delegation of the Ismaili community led by Sultan Lakhani also called on the CM to congratulate him over his assuming the office of chief minister. The chief minister thanked them for their gesture. Other members of the delegation were Amin Lakkhani, Hafiz Sherali.
