SIALKOT: 21 govt schools occupied by land mafia

[CMY]

SIALKOT: As per officials, the buildings of as many as 21 different government schools are fully or partially occupied illegally by the local Jagga Group, backed by the local politicians in various urban and rural parts of Sialkot district since the last several decades.

Official records revealed that the building of Govt Girls Primary School Nandpur East-Daska has been occupied illegally by the local influential since 2005, the building of Govt Girls Primary School Kamlay Bhaag-Pasrur occupied illegally since 2002, the building of Govt Girls Primary School Chak Sadaavey-Sialkot occupied since 1985, and the Govt Girls Primary School Jandwala-Daska occupied illegally since the last one decade, with the locals converting it into a cattle shed.

Among others partially occupied buildings, there are Govt Primary School Mattekey-Pasrur since 2000, Govt Public High School Ghartal-Daska since 1972, Govt Primary School Kot Ghuman-Daska since the last nine months, Govt Primary School Dugri-Satrah, since 2005, Govt Girls Primary School Karanwali-Sambrial since 1969, Govt Girls Primary School Dugri Muslim-Daska since 1993, Govt Girls Elementary School Jassoraan-Pasrur since 2003, Govt Girls Elementary School Bhulair Bajwa-Pasrur since the last three decades, Govt Primary School Arki-Pasrur since 1980, Govt Girls Primary School Arki-Pasrur since 1979, Govt Girls Primary School Amin Shah-Pasrur since 1978, Govt Primary School Ranekey Nagra-Badiana, Pasrur since 2000, Govt Girls Primary School Kot Kuba-Pasrur since 1986, Govt Arabic High School Sialkot(under the nose of Tehsil Municipal Administration) since 1987, Govt Girls High School Kharotta Syedaan-Sialkot since 1992 and Govt Girls Primary School Gorian-Uggoki, Sialkot tehsil, partially occupied since 1987.

The Sialkot Monitoring Team has also inspected these illegally occupied government school buildings and has sent the details to the provincial and district governments for further action.

Moreover, classes of as many as seven different schools continue to be held at the nearby graveyards situated in various rural parts of Sialkot district.

When contacted, Sialkot DCO Capt ® Atta Muhammad Khan said special operation would be started soon to vacate these illegally occupied schools buildings from the grasp of land grabbers.

Sialkot mourns Variyo’s death: Sialkot-based famous political Variyo head and former MNA Ch Akhtar Ali Variyo, aged 75, Tuesday was laid to rest in his native graveyard at Village Variyo-Sialkot in the presence of thousands of mourners from all walks of life.

More than 10,000 people including several federal and provincial ministers, MNAs and MPAs attended the funeral and condoled his death.

Ch Akhtar Ali Variyo was the father of former provincial minister Ch Khush Akhtar Subhani and elder brother of former federal minister Ch Abdul Sattar Variyo. He has left behind a widow, a daughter and four sons. He died late Monday at the Services Hospital Lahore after being in coma for five days following protracted illness. His Qul will be held at his residence on Wednesday morning.

Locals lash out against delay in completion of road: Hundreds of people including women and children from the surrounding villages of Head Marala, Tuesday staged a demonstration in protest against the inordinate delay in completion of main Sialkot-Head Marala Road by the Sialkot district government.

Protesters held banners and placards and chanted slogans against the ineptitude of the Sialkot district government. They accused the Sialkot District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema of politicizing the project and punishing the people for failing to vote for PML-Q candidate Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, the elder brother of Sialkot District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema, in the Feb 18, 2008 general elections.

Reportedly, the road is badly dug up and sites several feet deep craters. The rising dust has further intensified the miseries of many besides, hampering the pace of business and trade activities.

So far, people from about 200 surrounding villages continue to suffer colossal problems while the district government maintains a deaf ear.

The Rs 300 million project started one and a half year ago aimed at easing commuting, but the deliberate delays has caused many a people to lash out against the authorities concerned. They urged the federal and provincial governments to look into the matter in the larger public interest. When contacted, the concerned officials refused to comment on the situation.

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