3182 kanals etpb

3,182 kanals of ETPB land still occupied despite invalid transfers

ByJustpaste.in

Islamabad: More than 3,182 kanals of federally owned Evacuee Trust Property Board land in Attock still has not been restored in government ownership records even after the transfers were declared invalid. The Ministry of Religious Affairs told a parliamentary committee that local revenue authorities allegedly failed to cooperate despite repeated requests.

The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony reviewed the disputed transfer of ETPB land to private occupants under a Punjab provincial law. The issue was raised through a question by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, who sought details about how federally owned trust property was transferred and what action had been taken to restore ownership.

The committee was informed that 1,907 kanals of ETPB land in Mouza Neeka had allegedly been transferred to occupants. Another 1,275 kanals and 12 marlas of ETPB land in Mouza Ameer Khan, Tehsil Fateh Jang, District Attock, had also allegedly been transferred.

Together, the disputed properties amount to more than 3,182 kanals of land. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs briefing, the transfers were unauthorised. The ministry alleged that the occupants obtained ownership rights through the connivance of local revenue officials.

The briefing did not identify the individual revenue officials allegedly responsible in the material provided to the committee. The committee was also told that the ETPB Chairman had already declared the transfers invalid under the Evacuee Trust Property Management and Disposal Act.

That decision was later upheld by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. However, the land has still not been restored in the revenue record under the name of ETPB or the Federal Government.

According to the briefing, ETPB field offices in Hassanabdal and Attock repeatedly contacted the concerned revenue authorities in an effort to restore federal ownership. Despite those written requests, the ownership record had not been corrected.

The ministry blamed the delay on alleged non cooperation by local revenue authorities. The ministry also clarified that there was no evidence of internal involvement. It told the committee that no ETPB official was found involved in the disputed transfers.

According to the official briefing, the occupants succeeded in obtaining ownership rights through the alleged connivance of local revenue staff rather than ETPB employees. The case has raised questions about how federally owned religious trust property could be transferred through a provincial law and why the land has not been restored even after the transfers were officially declared invalid.

The disputed property belongs to the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which manages properties connected with religious trusts and heritage assets. The committee took serious note of the continuing problem and discussed the need to protect federal ownership of ETPB properties.

Members were also concerned about the failure to update the official revenue record despite earlier administrative decisions against the transfers. The case now centres on restoration of legal ownership in government records and accountability for officials, if any, found responsible for facilitating the disputed transfers.

The committee directed the concerned authorities to continue pursuing the ETPB land matter and bring further clarification before it in subsequent proceedings.

The controversy is likely to remain under parliamentary scrutiny until the land is restored to ETPB or the Federal Government and responsibility for the allegedly unauthorised transfers is clearly determined.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa likely to get new police chief

    ByJustpaste.in

    PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid is likely to be replaced, according to official sources. The provincial government has reportedly initiated the process of appointing a new police chief. Three names have been forwarded to the federal government for consideration. The federal government will review the proposed names before making a final decision. Sources said the appointment of the new IG is expected within the next few days. The change, if approved, would bring a new leadership at the top of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. The provincial police chief is responsible for overseeing law enforcement operations across the province. The federal government has the authority to make the final appointment after considering the names forwarded by the provincial government. Officials have not yet publicly announced the names of the three candidates. No formal notification regarding the replacement of Zulfiqar Hamid has been issued so far. The development comes amid continued security and law-and-order challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The new police chief, once appointed, will be responsible for strengthening policing, improving security measures and coordinating operations across the province.

  • | |

    PTI social media faces internal differences, group…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has acknowledged that the party is facing internal differences and grouping, saying that the lack of contact with party founder Imran Khan for the past nine months has made decision-making much more difficult. In a post on X, Salman Akram Raja said that, for the first time in the party’s history, there has been no contact with Imran Khan for nine months. He said that issues and disputes that were previously resolved within minutes through the party founder’s guidance now become the subject of long discussions. His remarks suggest that the absence of the jailed PTI founder has created a leadership gap, allowing disagreements within the party to become more visible. Raja also admitted that PTI had faced what he described as a “planned campaign” to weaken the party during this period. According to him, efforts were made from within the party to create problems, but senior leaders remained united and resisted those attempts. “I am grateful to Imran Khan’s senior colleagues who stood firm against these failed attempts,” he said. The PTI secretary general also claimed that another challenge comes from social media, where he said three different groups are active against the party’s interests. According to Raja, the first group consists of people who are formally linked to the media teams of PTI’s political opponents. The second group, he said, includes people within PTI who are seeking party positions and view certain leaders as obstacles to their ambitions. His statement is being seen as a rare public acknowledgment that internal rivalries and competition for positions exist within the party. Raja said the third group includes sincere PTI supporters who genuinely want Imran Khan’s release and the party’s success. He described them as passionate young people and older supporters who may not be fully aware of all developments. He argued that while emotional slogans are easy to raise, developing and following an effective political strategy requires patience, understanding and careful planning. Referring to calls for immediate action, Raja said that a political revolution cannot be achieved simply by gathering “one truck and 20,000 to 30,000 people.” He stressed that successful movements require well-thought-out strategies rather than emotional decisions. He added that every PTI worker wants Imran Khan to be released as soon as possible, but said the party must adopt practical and successful methods instead of relying on slogans alone. Raja’s comments come at a time when PTI has faced repeated speculation about internal divisions, disagreements over strategy and criticism exchanged on social media by supporters of different leaders. While he blamed external forces for trying to weaken the party, his remarks also indicate that internal competition, differences over leadership and disagreements about political strategy have become significant challenges for PTI during the prolonged absence of direct communication with its founder. His statement is likely to fuel further debate about unity within the party as it continues to navigate political and organisational challenges.

  • | |

    Pakistan, Kuwait agree to expand bilateral cooperation

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan and Kuwait have agreed to strengthen cooperation in several key areas, including trade, investment, energy, labour, agriculture, information technology, health, mining and minerals, and defence. The understanding came during delegation-level talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah co-chaired the meeting. Sheikh Jarrah arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a two-day official visit aimed at reviewing Pakistan-Kuwait relations and discussing regional and international developments of mutual interest. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides reviewed the full range of bilateral ties and explored ways to expand economic cooperation and strengthen partnerships across various sectors. The two foreign ministers also agreed to improve institutional coordination by building stronger links between relevant institutions and maintaining regular high-level exchanges. Pakistan and Kuwait further reaffirmed their commitment to working closely at multilateral forums on matters of shared interest. During the talks, Sheikh Jarrah thanked the Pakistani government and people for their warm welcome and hospitality. He also appreciated Pakistan’s support to Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • | | |

    Salman Ali Agha backs Babar Azam’s return to rev…

    ByJustpaste.in

      Pakistan’s stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has backed the return of Babar Azam, expressing confidence that the experienced batter can provide a much-needed boost to the team’s struggling batting lineup. His comments came after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat against England in the opening Test at Headingley on Friday. England completely dominated the match and secured an innings-and-103-run victory, taking control of the Test series. Pakistan struggled throughout the game, particularly with the bat, as they were dismissed for just 171 runs in their first innings before being bowled out for 135 in the second. In contrast, England produced a strong batting performance, posting 409 runs in their first innings. Pakistan’s bowlers were unable to take full advantage of the helpful conditions, while England’s players maintained pressure throughout the match. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match after an impressive bowling display in which he claimed eight wickets. Speaking after the match, Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that England had been the superior team and admitted that Pakistan had made several costly mistakes. “England have outplayed us,” Salman said, emphasizing that the team’s inexperienced batting unit needed to become more consistent, especially when playing in challenging overseas conditions. The Pakistan captain also defended his fast bowlers despite their failure to capitalize on the moisture and overcast conditions at Headingley. He pointed out that the pace attack had performed well during Pakistan’s previous tour of the West Indies and believed the conditions in England should have suited them. According to Salman, Pakistan have bowlers capable of reaching speeds of around 140 kilometers per hour, but they were unable to produce their best performances in the first Test. He insisted that he continued to have faith in the bowling unit and said the team would work on correcting its mistakes before the next match. Despite the disappointing result, Salman praised the individual efforts of Ali Usman and Abdullah Shafique. He was particularly pleased with Usman’s bowling performance in difficult conditions and also highlighted Shafique’s determination with the bat. Looking ahead to the next Test, Salman believes the potential return of Babar Azam could significantly improve Pakistan’s batting. Babar’s experience and ability to perform under pressure could provide stability to a lineup that struggled against England’s bowling attack. “Hopefully Babar will come back in the next match and his presence will give a boost to our batting,” Salman said. Pakistan will now look to learn from their mistakes and make a strong comeback in the next Test. With Babar Azam potentially returning to the playing XI, the team will hope that his experience can help strengthen the batting order and give Pakistan a better chance of challenging England in the remainder of the series.

  • | |

    Hassan Murtaza slams alleged AJK rigging

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza has accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Murtaza said the election process was marred by serious violations of the electoral code of conduct. He alleged that the rules were repeatedly ignored during polling. He made these remarks while addressing a press conference in Lahore. Murtaza also criticised the role of the Election Commission during the elections. He alleged that the commission failed to perform its duties impartially. According to him, it appeared to be acting like an election agent instead of an independent institution. The PPP leader strongly criticised the PML-N over the election results. He accused the party of setting a new example of electoral manipulation. “You steal the mandate of whoever you want,” Murtaza said while criticising the PML-N. He also referred to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s statements about AJK. Murtaza said Sharif was now visiting Kashmir and calling for himself to be made prime minister. The PPP leader said the current political situation in AJK was also linked to the sacrifices and political role of the PPP. Murtaza said that if Nawaz Sharif was able to go to Kashmir today and demand the prime minister’s position, it was partly because of the PPP’s political contribution. The PPP leader also raised serious concerns over violence during the polling process. He said a PPP worker was killed on election day. Murtaza described the incident as a serious matter that would remain part of the political record. He said history would record what happened during the elections. It would also establish who was responsible for the violence and who lost his life. The allegations came after the PML-N emerged as the leading party in the first phase of the AJK elections. The party secured nine seats, according to the results cited in the report

  • | |

    Khawaja Asif calls bureaucracy Pakistan’s real r…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised Pakistan’s bureaucracy. He described it as the country’s “real and permanent rulers.” Asif said bureaucrats had remained largely beyond effective accountability during Pakistan’s 78-year history. He said politicians had faced accountability on numerous occasions. Other powerful groups had also been held accountable at different times. However, he said it was difficult to find similar examples involving senior bureaucrats. The defence minister made the remarks while sharing a social media post about alleged financial corruption involving a senior bureaucrat. Asif said the bureaucracy had gradually become a powerful and largely untouchable class. He questioned why bureaucrats had not been subjected to the same level of scrutiny as politicians. According to Asif, politicians themselves were partly responsible for the situation. He said political leaders had failed to establish an effective system to hold the bureaucracy accountable. The minister also referred to a former bureaucratic ruler while discussing the influence of senior officials in Pakistan. He said the former official used highly inappropriate and insulting language against politicians. Despite this behaviour, politicians continued to tolerate him, according to Asif. Asif’s comments highlight his criticism of the imbalance in accountability among powerful sections of Pakistani society. His remarks also raise questions about the role of the bureaucracy in governance and decision-making. The minister maintained that stronger accountability was needed for all powerful groups. He suggested that politicians could not blame bureaucrats alone for the existing system because political leaders had also contributed to its continuation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *