Rawalpindi: RDA starts operation against ‘qabza groups’

[Naveed Yaseen]

Saeed Ahmed
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has finally launched an operation against ‘qabza groups’ to get vacated its illegally grabbed land.

On Thursday, the staff of the RDA Encroachment Directorate got vacated its 30 marlas of land in Sherpao Colony occupied by a ‘qabza group’ for stocking building material for last five years.

The RDA’s spokesman said that the RDA has made a plan for taking action against land-grabbers in the vicinity of Saidpur Road, Siddiqui Chowk and College Road.

He said that the RDA would approach different departments, particularly education ministry, which has constructed schools illegally on the RDA land.

He said that the RDA has failed to receive a positive response from the Punjab government in getting the required strength of police personnel and special magistrate to tackle the situation created by encroachers.

The RDA spokesman said that members of ‘qabza groups’ not only pelt stones on the RDA staff but also open fire on them while attempting to get vacated the illegally occupied land.

According to him, the RDA had demanded of the Punjab government to provide police force and magistrate to tackle the situation. “Though the Punjab government had directed the CPO to provide police for carrying out clean-up operation, however, the problem is still unresolved. The concerned police stations pay no heed to accompany the RDA staff during operations against ‘qabza groups’, the spokesman said.

He said that at present the RDA was conducting clean-up operations with only four police officials, who were insufficient to take action against people who have encroached the RDA land in several localities.

RDA Chairman Sardar Naseem, who is also in-charge of Chief Minister’s Task Force for Monitoring and Development Cell, told ‘The News’ that he would discuss the matter with the CPO.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=193051