–Islamabad IGP orders departmental inquiry against police officials involved in ‘backing’ land mafia
ISLAMABAD: The regional police chief on Monday suspended four officials for allegedly assisting the land mafia during the execution of citywide operation against encroachments.
According to details, the suspended Islamabad police officials were allegedly involved in land grabbing by facilitating the mafia.
Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amir Zulfiqar registered cases against 42 land grabbers and suspended four officials for their alleged assistance while ordering a departmental inquiry against them.
The cops who have been alleged of backing land grabbers include Inspector Mirza Shafique (CIA), Sub-Inspector Malik Mumtaz, Assistant Sub-Inspector Haji Zafar, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Murtaza. Others include Faizan Khan, Constable Abid, Constable Ameer Shah and Constable Afsar Shah.
The case emerged when the police teams, headed by Industrial Area Police Superintendent Hassam Iqbal, launched an operation against land grabbers in the jurisdiction of Noon and Tarnol police stations.
The police successfully vacated 877 kanal precious land from the illegal occupants. During the operation, land mafia resisted and opened fire on police, however, no one got injured. The lands which have been vacated are reportedly worth 20 billion rupees.
Islamabad police have lodged three different cases in the said police station against 42 persons under anti-terrorism section. Police have also nabbed more than 100 persons for resisting the operation and recovered guns, including multiple AK47s.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) also took part in the operation, which was conducted on the directions of Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi and Prime minister Imran Khan.
Heavy machinery of the ICT was used to demolish the residential and commercial structures in multiple areas of the capital.
Officials told Pakistan Today that this action was taken on a complaint received by the IGP from a citizen who had been kidnapped by the land mafia and received death threats. Taking action, the IGP ordered immediate registration of a case and categorically ordered all police officers to start a crackdown against land grabbers in the capital.
MINISTER VOWS TO ACT AGAINST MAFIA:
Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi on Sunday vowed to rid the capital of land grabbers, adding that the anti-encroachment drive would continue as per rules and regulation.
Talking to media persons here at Bahria Enclave, he said 65 illegal commercial structures had been demolished while 514 kanal state land has been retrieved.
The minister, who personally supervised the drive, said all legal formalities were being fulfilled adding “we are moving forward as a team.”
He said CDA had issued many notices to Bahria Enclave and eventually anti-encroachment operation was launched to demolish illegal structures and retrieving encroached land.
Afridi said Prime Minister Imran Khan had clear directions that no action would be taken against innocent persons.
“We would not allow any encroacher at any cost to grab state land. Action will also be taken against those who facilitated the land mafia,” he said and added it would be the responsibility of Bahria Enclave administration to compensate the affected persons.
“No one is above law and there would be no compromise on national interest. This is called New Pakistan as action is being taken against those, trying to make state within the state,” he said this while replying to a question.