‘Patwaris’ strike causing problems

Rawalpindi

A large number of clients are facing worst kind of difficulties in all revenue matters as well as release of prisoners from jail because of the strike of ‘patwaris’, ‘gardawars’ (revenue officials) that has entered 8th day but higher authorities was watching the whole drama with closed eyes.

The revenue officials of Rawalpindi district are on strike against anti-corruption department as some of its officials beat up revenue officials including Naib Tehsildar Malik Muhammad Safdar, Gardawar Qazi Muhammad Sajjad and Patwari Chaudhry Farhat Husain.

The incident took place on May 2, 2017 when revenue officials went to director general (DG) anti-corruption department, Lahore for recording their statement. The anti-corruption officials beat up the aforementioned officials of revenue department during investigation on the occasion while two of them fell unconscious.

Anjuman Patwarian Rawalpindi (APR) President Javed Akhtar told ‘The News’ that they will not call off their strike till the acceptance of their demands. He appealed to Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice in this incident. He also alleged that anti-corruption department officials are corrupt officials demanding bribe from all government officials. “If government did not take action against director general (DG) anti-corruption department, we will continue our strike and observe ‘dharna’ in front of the Parliament House,” he warned.

Several under trial prisoners could not be released even after getting bails because they could not get registries or ‘fard’ for deposition as surety bonds in the courts.

No doubt, Punjab government has provided us digitized system for getting computerised ‘fard’ but importance of ‘patwaris’, ‘gardawars’, ‘naib tehsidars’ and other revenue officials was as per routine. Nobody could get revenue related papers without clearance from revenue officials. All revenue related mattesr have come to a complete halt for the past eight days. The helpless people are continuously visiting Rawalpindi Tehsil, ‘patwari’ offices, ‘gardawar’ offices and city district government, Rawalpindi offices but in vain.

A total of 307 ‘patwaris’ of the district are on strike against anti-corruption department for not registering FIR as per rules and regulations for the last 8 days while the clients are facing difficulties in all the matters relating to revenue.

Dozens of clients complained to ‘The News’ that they are facing worst kind of difficulties because of strike of revenue officials. They said that government officials should resolve their issues in a smooth manner to avoid difficulties.  Shazia Fakhar, a female client said that she was visiting ‘gardawar’ office for six days for clearance of her documents but in vain. All offices of revenue officials are closed and in some instance if officials are present but they refuse to do work, she denounced. 

Bashir Ahmed that he got bail for his younger brother two days ago but he is still in jail because he could not get ‘fard’ for depositing it as a surety bond. “We are facing difficulties in all issues but government is watching the whole drama with closed eyes,” he said.

Niaz Ahmed that he was visiting the office of the patwari for getting ‘fard’ for the last 7 days but failed to get it. “Concerned ‘patwari’ was present in the office, but he refused to issue the ‘fard’ saying that they were on pen-down strike,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Tasleem Ali Khan said that they were trying to resolve this issue. “We hope to resolve this matter soon,” he assured.