MMA govt’s ‘land scandal’ revealed

[LRE]

MMA govt’s ‘land scandal’ revealed

* 11 influential figures the major beneficiaries

By Zakir Hassnain

PESHAWAR: Eleven influential figures were allotted costly and fertile agriculture land during the former Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government at nominal rates in southern districts of the NWFP in a “land scandal” alleged by two members of the provincial assembly.

Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) MPA Israrullah Gandapur and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Sanaullah Khan Miankhel had highlighted the illegal allotment of government land during the ongoing assembly session on August 20, 2008 and tabled a joint adjournment motion which the House admitted for a full debate.

Giving details of land allotments, PPP-Sherpao’s Gandapur told Daily Times on Tuesday the former government leased fertile government land to 11 influential or ‘favoured’ figures at nominal prices.

Beneficiaries: According to Gandapur, who has a copy of the land allotment record, the MMA government illegally leased 2,286 kanals of land at Rs 50 per kanal to Alamgir, son of Raza Hasan; 400 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Haji Obaidullah, son of Haji Rehmatullah; 604 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Muhammad Iltaf, son of Obaidullah; 15 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Haji Sharifullah, son of Rehmatullah; 729 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Haji Shadizai, son of Sultan Muhammad; 1,047 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Mian Khan, son of Sultan; 502 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Adnan Khan, son of Shahzada Khan; 15 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Sharifullah, son of Rehmat; 200 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Haq Nawaz, son of Abdul Jabbar; 245 kanals at Rs 200 per kanal to Samiullah, son of Fazal, and six kanals and six marlas at Rs 200 per kanal to Muhammad Ashraf, son of Shehzad.

Gandapur said that of 3,758 kanals, 2,739 kanals of land is located at Rakh Zindani village, 619 kanals at Rata Kulachi village and 400 kanals at Rakhmara village in Dera Ismail Khan, and that leases could extend up to 99 years.

“The land is fertile, good for agriculture and very expensive,” he said. When the opposition members unearthed illegal allotment of government land in the House on August 20 during the ongoing session, Minister for Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan said the land was not allotted under any law. “The allotment is illegal,” he said. The minister said the government would retrieve the land. However, the minister failed to say what action the coalition government would take against those involved in “the land scandal”.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2008_pg7_1