AMIDST a strong protest by the opposition and ruckus, Sindh Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution with a majority vote seeking legislation to protect illegally constructed buildings across the province and disciplinary action against delinquent officials who allowed such construction over the years.
This matter of illegal constructions and housing societies is not confined to Sindh alone but these have cropped up across the country.
And definitely this is not possible without the connivance of those sitting in the civic bodies whose hands would have been greased by the land mafia who indeed deserves no mercy at all.
Especially in Karachi, the issue of land grabbing has assumed a very serious proportion and the provincial government needs to seriously look into it.
However, as regards the Sindh Assembly’s resolution, one may not doubt the good intent of the provincial government.
The very content of the resolution itself illustrates that the citizens from all strata of society have invested their hard earned savings in the purchase of units in such constructions and are in occupation of those premises based on documents issued and registered with relevant authorities.
Indeed for the illegal action of land mafia and their abettors in civic bodies, a common man should not be punished and deprived of whatever flat or any other facility it has procured through hard earned money.
In Punjab also, the Punjab Commission for Regularization of Irregular Schemes Ordinance was promulgated earlier this year and then the federal government also reportedly has finalized preparations for the regularization of irregular and lop-sided housing societies in the jurisdiction of CDA.
For the sake of public interest, both the federal and provincial governments must go ahead with their plans but in future these illegal societies or constructions must not be allowed under any circumstances.
Action should be taken against them as soon as they start the ground work. Black sheep in the civic bodies should also be traced and action taken against them.
Then most importantly, it must be ensured that any facility is built as per the building codes as it is the matter of public safety.
