Officials, politicians 'patronise' land mafia

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

KARACHI - Encroachers are smarter than the anti-encroachers, having the ability how to dodge the land owners and the authorities and use both the influence and money to handle ‘problems’.
According to the reports, the land-mafia, involved in the highly lucrative business of encroachment of lands, is well-versed in the tactics necessary to run the mafia.
Source privy to the matter told The Nation that the land-grabbing was an organised crime and could only be run with the connivance of the authorities concerned who aid and back them.
Explaining the procedure of land-grabbing, he said that being part and parcel, the authorities concerned always play role of their share.
He said that land-grabbing gangs based upon the influential political backing which including protection from the law enforcers, the land departmental dealing and strength of fighters.
A successful modus operandi of the land mafia is to change the land into a shanty town frequently.
The said families including women and children being used to establish shanty town are well aware about their responsibilities and have an ability to give a high time to anybody if attempt to wipe them out.
The said families mostly hailed from the upper Sindh and lower Punjab areas, charging amount against the performance.
Such people of shanty towns portray any action against them illegal and stage protest, fight with the anti-encroachment force. An APP Society of the journalist located in the limits of Malir Cantt Police once was evacuated by the land grabbers years ago and now again on the list of grabbers where they move to set up a new shanty town.
A man supervising the land and deals the matter of land when asked told The Nation that he could not pay the protection money to the police for last couple of months which resulting in the police give a free hand to the mafia for establishing a shanty town.