OKARA, May 11 A Punjab government team visited the district on Monday to resolve tension between tenants and allottees of military land but apparently failed to make any headway.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister's Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Labour Minister Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna, Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood, IGP Tariq Saleem Dogar, MPAs Mian Yawar Zaman, Chaudhry Nadeem Abbas Rubera, former MPAs Muhammad Arif Chaudhry, Malik Muhammad Abbas Khokhar, Sahiwal Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Khan, DCO Sohail Shahzad, DPO Mian Bilal Siddique Kamyana, and some army officials to decide the fate of tenants of Military Farms, Okara (MFO) and Kulyana State Stud land, Okara.

Though no official word was announced after the meeting, sources said some MPAs were in favour of giving proprietary rights to Kulyana tenants while officials suggested eviction operation against tenants.

After the meeting, some participants visited the MFO headquarters and met KSS stud land allottees.

Though an invitation was also extended to representatives of Anuman Mozareen and KSS tenants for joining a meeting with officials at the civil rest house, they were not given any hearing by the official team.

The meeting reportedly ended with an announcement that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would take a final decision over the issue at a meeting to be held in Lahore on May 23.

Ajuman Mozareen Punjab general secretary Mehr Abdu Sattar and KSS tenant's president Malik Saleem Jhakhar told newsmen that despite an official invitation, AMP and KSS representatives were not allowed to participate in the meeting because PML-N MPA Mian Yawar Zaman and former MPA Malik Muhammad Abbas Khokhar were political rivals of the AMP.

Mehr Abdus Sattar warned that if the government took any action against the tenants at the desire of 200 stud land allottees, the AMP and KSS would put up strong resistance.

Rejecting the allegations, MPA Zaman said since Mehr Abdus Sattar and Malik Saleem Jhakhar were nominated accused in various cases, the chief secretary and the IGP deemed it unfit to have a meeting with them. He said the PML-N had been fighting for the rights of the tenants in and outside the parliament.

Zaman said the Punjab CM had established a district level committee to hold meetings with the 'real' representatives of the tenants. “The committee will soon meet the real representatives of the tenants.”

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...