According to news, LDA has successfully recovered 250 kanals of encroached land from the illegal occupants on Thursday. LDA team faced much resistance in retrieving this land, since illegal occupants armed with sticks attacked the team and dozen people got injured. The encroached land was falling under the LDA Avenue – 1 residential scheme which is situated on Raiwind Road.
The LDA team was led by Ms. Marium Kayani, who is on the post of Additional Director General (Headquarters). Illegal occupants beat the police DSP and some LDA officials including Ms Marium Kayani. One of the women dragged the shawl of Ms Marium Kayani who also thrashed her in self defence. The illegal occupants raised slogans against the LDA and government of Punjab because they believed it is illegal to eject them from the land which they own.
The angry protestors considered this step illegal and refused to vacant the land when LDA Avenue – 1 was launched. LDA continued its operation for 8 hours despite high resistance, stone pelting, manhandling and aerial firing on the part of the occupants. Ms. Marium Kayani highlighted that LDA has acquired the land under the Land Acquisition Act, it had since become LDA’s property after the launch of the scheme where majority of the owners of the land had already been given compensation.
She also added that LDA has allotted plots to 2800 applicants who are waiting for the possession. She said that LDA failed in retrieval of this land at three occasions and even after operation there are some pieces of land which have not been retrieved. For that LDA has plans to resume the operation.
Cases have been registered against 10 people who fought with the LDA officials and 6 have been arrested. LDA has given 3 days time to the occupants of other 7 kanal to leave the land. LDA would define the status of the land and if this 7 kanal land also is a part of the already acquired land, it would offer three days to the residents to demolish the construction. Moreover, orders have been passed to submit the injury fact finding report of Ms. Marium Kayani within 24 hours.
