Land grabbing case registered for encroaching DHA house

KARACHI: Karachi’s South Police registered a case against four persons on the allegations of an attempt to encroach a residential bungalow of a lady Salia Marri niece of the late Sardar Khair Bux Marri.

The said property is located in the posh Defense Housing Authority Phase V, Karachi. Salia Marri a close relative of the late Sardar Khair Bux Marri, has been residing in London for last many years. The FIR was registered in the complaint of Fateh Khan watchman of Salia Marri's house at Police Station Darakshan of District South against Mushtaq Sarki, Waris Jakhrani, Ifee Jakhrani, and Shoaib Mirani. One of the accused, Mushtaq Sarki told The News that he has nothing to do with encroachment. He claimed that the South Police had fraudulently implicated his name in a fake case. He said he had only helped three poor belonging to his native town who were illegally detained by PS Darkhshan and approached the Sessions Court, South Karachi against their illegal detention.

Barrister Mustafa Mahesar lawyer of Salia Marri told The News that her client is a legitimate and rightful owner of the said property and the accused tried to encroach on her property. Mahesar said the Police only registered the case against them in line with the law. He said the accused misguided the court about their illegal detention. On the other hand, the Karachi police said that Darkhshan Police booked the four for allegedly belonging to a landgrabber group and for their attempt to occupy Marri's bungalow. The Sessions Court, South in its order directed a thorough investigation by the relevant SSP and submission of the report in a month.

Earlier one Raheem Bux moved an application before the Sessions Judge, South and accused SHO PS Darakhshan of detaining three people including Waris Ali Jakhrani, Ifee, and Shoaib illegally without any FIR or a complaint. The court appointed Nazir to conduct a raid at Police Station Darakhshan and recover them. The Nazir found the three detainees in the 'Duty Officer's room' and directed their release. He also ordered them and the SHO to appear before the court.

In his report to the court, SHO Darakshan said Barrister Mustafa Mahesar had filed a complaint on behalf of Fateh Khan, watchman of the bungalow. It was alleged that the three accused had occupied the bungalow claiming it to be the property of Mushtaq Sarki. He said when watchman Fateh Khan approached the police for help the landgrabbers group also turned up at the police station and claimed ownership of the property. The SHO said the three were asked to establish their claim by submitting documents but in the meanwhile, the Nazir of the Court came and directed their release. He denied keeping the accused under unlawful custody and insisted the entire proceedings were in line with the law. Barrister Mahesar informed the court the accused were neither arrested nor in lockup but they misled the court to distract it from the issue of property encroachment.

While directing a thorough investigation into the case to clear the allegations, the court allowed the police to take legal action against the accused "if there is any complaint or FIR registered" against the accused.