Hidden Property Cell of Evacuee Property Trust Board (ETPB) traced about 12,045 kanals land worth billions of rupees grabbed by people illegally.
The ETPB officials on condition of anonymity informed APP that there were many Trust properties, which were donated and managed by the Hindus and Sikhs in the region, before partition of Subcontinent.
They added that different persons took control of these properties illegally after partition and also got these properties registered with their names. According to law, the ETPB is real owner of all such properties. The law stated, once a property is declared Trust’s, it is non transfer-able, the sources informed.
The ETPB traced nearly 8000 kanals in Chak number 71/5-L, in Sahiwal. The property was donated to a Trust namely “Servants of People’s Society”. It is agriculture land and is adjacent to Sahiwal city.
The ETPB administration has got revenue record of the Trust land and is also working on some more documents, necessary to file reference in court of Chairman ETPB, the sources maintained.
According to Evacuee Property Act 1975, Section 8, the chairman is authority to declare such properties as Trust property.
Another 1300 kanals land has been traced in Budhla Sannat, a suburban area of Multan. There was a pond and three wells, donated by a Hindu namely Budhla Sannat. The department has got revenue record of year 1887. Similarly, another 450 kanals property was located in Tehsil Dunyapur and the department would file reference in near future as documentation including record of rights was being arranged.
ETPB also found 500 kanals in Kayianpur, a suburban area of Multan. According to revenue record, the property was named “Goru-Chaila” (Spiritual head-Disciple). The ETPB had filed reference in this regard, said the source, adding that the apex court had also declared such “Goru-Chaila” properties as Trust property and thus ETPB is real owner of it. Reference of another 45 kanals at Chungi Number 14, an urban area of Multan, had also been filed. The ETPB chairman had declared it as the property of ETPB.
However, the occupants filed appeal to federal secretary for national harmony and religious affairs and thus the case is therein. It is also Goru-Chaila property, the sources stated. The sources added Goru Mangal Pori and Chaila Narain Pori had control of the property during pre-partition.
The department also filed reference for 750 kanals, located in Dunyapur, they observed.
The ETPB sources stated that the occupants grabbed these properties in illegal way and hoped that these properties would be recovered at all costs.