BAHAWALPUR: The divisional administration claims to have retrieved precious Auqaf department land worth over Rs122.5 million from grabbers, including a housing society’s builders, at Samdani village in Sadiqbad tehsil of Rahim Yar Khan district.

Divisional Commissioner Ms Musarrat Jabeen told Dawn that land grabbers including Kashif and Ghulam Hussain, in alleged connivance with some employees of the Auqaf department and revenue field staff, occupied the land measuring about 20 kanals worth millions of rupees and began developing a housing society on it.

On receipt of a complaint, the district collector, under section 17(2) of the Civil Administration Act, 2017 was ordered to take action against the grabbers and eject unauthorised occupants under Punjab Autonomous Bodies Immovable Properties (ejectment of unauthorised occupants) Ordinance,1965.

On commissioner’s orders, the land was retrieved from the illegal occupants and its possession was returned to Auqaf department.

She said that the two revenue department employees involved in the scam – gardawar Muhammad Afzal, and patwari Usamaa bin Khalid were suspended from service, while disciplinary action against tehsildar Ahsan Rana was recommended to the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), Punjab.

The commissioner said that the Auqaf department employees involved in the matter would also be taken to task and a reference for strict action against them has been forwarded to chief administrator, Auqaf, Punjab.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2025