An 80-year-old Pakistani-American citizen, Muhammad Arif Mirza, has appealed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to intervene in a land grabbing case involving his property on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Karachi, where an illegal commercial building, Hill Trade Center, has been constructed. Speaking at a press conference, Mirza accused the builder of misrepresenting facts before the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to obtain approvals while concealing the ownership dispute.
Mirza, who has been living in the United States for over 50 years, stated that he legally acquired Plot No. SNCC 3/3, Block 7 and 8, in 1968 after making full payments via cheques to the Karachi Cooperative Housing Societies Union. He held legal possession of the land until 2015, when he returned to Karachi after his mother’s passing and discovered that his plot had been fraudulently transferred. He alleged that Khursheed Anwer and Qamar-un-Nisa Begum manipulated legal proceedings to transfer the land unlawfully. The two parties filed a fake lawsuit against each other and later reached a fraudulent compromise, facilitating the illegal transfer of the plot to Topaz Builders. Mirza challenged this transaction in the Sindh High Court, which initially restrained the builder from creating third-party interests, but despite legal barriers, construction was completed, and sub-leases were issued without disclosing the defective ownership status. Upon discovering the deception, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) sealed the building on January 28, 2025, citing misrepresentation of facts. However, Mirza revealed that the builder unlawfully removed the seal without informing authorities, defying official orders.
Mirza expressed concern over the plight of countless landowners in Karachi who fall victim to powerful land mafias, enduring prolonged legal battles with little hope of justice. He has urged Chief Justice of Pakistan, Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Minister Sindh, Governor Sindh, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to take immediate action against land grabbers and ensure that victims like himself are restored their rightful properties.
