KARACHI – A group of goons, alleged to be associated with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and posted at Bilawal House, have grabbed 24 apartments in a complex situated at Dr Dawood Pota Road near the Cantt Station, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The property, worth million of rupees, was occupied in the first week of January, according to an FIR lodged with the Artillery Police by the aggrieved residents of Horizon Plaza. Millions of rupees in cash were also seized, and the goons forced the residents to vacate the property, or else, face dire consequences.
There are 72 apartments in the complex. While the owners of 24 were intimidated into leaving, the ones who stayed behind are no better: the goons have begun mixing sewage in tap water supply, and electricity connections are routinely severed.
The aggrieved residents accused three men – Azam Khan Afridi, Advocate Pir Dervesh and Sarwar Shah – of leading the encroachment operation. “These are the same trio who are believed to have been involved in the KPT land-grabbing scam of 2009,” sources told Pakistan Today, “but the KPT managed to retrieve their land through Pakistan Navy’s intervention.”
“The trio are all Bilawal House officials,” sources alleged, explaining that their association meant that the police were reluctant to register an FIR against the trio. The aggrieved residents found a messiah in the Saddar town police officer (TPO), who ordered the registration of an FIR.
“The police officials who lodged the FIR are now under severe pressure from certain ruling government officials, and they are likely to face immediate transfers to other police stations in the next few days,” sources claimed.
The FIR (No 20/2011) was registered under sections 506-B, 448, 380, and 341 against the three men. When the police high-ups were contacted by Pakistan Today for their version on the story, they reused to comment on the matter.
Many eye Cantt but only few find the Horizon
