MUZAFFARRGARH: Three forest officials and two land grabbers were arrested by an Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) team on Friday evening in Layyah district.

ACE Circle Officer Sarfraz Gadi arrested Layyah Range Officer Adnan Yusuf Gujar, Bloc Officer Najibullah and Guard Muhammad Hussain while two land occupants involved in the case, Majeed and Rafiq, were also arrested for their alleged involvement in occupation of 348 kanals of Forest Department land.

A case has been registered against eight people and search for three others absconding suspects is ongoing. The ACE said that all suspects would be arrested soon for encroachment on forest area in Chak 122-A, TDA.

According to the first information report registered in Layyah ACE office under section 5/2/46, 409 these forest officials had been involved in facilitating the land grabbers to grab the forest land. Up to 400 kanals had been encroached upon.

According to the FIR, the land grabbers had n built structures on the occupied land and cut trees from the spot.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2024