27 Illegal Housing Societies Found on Kashmir State Land in Lahore

A Senate subcommittee has raised alarms regarding 27 potentially unlawful housing developments constructed on Jammu and Kashmir State land in Lahore. These properties, the source material explains, have been discovered during a recent inspection by the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and Frontier Regions.

Led by convener Nasir Mahmood Butt, the committee toured Sultanpura, Rehmanpura, and Naulakha Bazaar areas to evaluate the properties' condition and discuss related management and protection concerns.

According to an official statement, some residents have already erected homes on the land, while numerous prospective buyers remain oblivious to the fact that the properties are actually owned by Jammu and Kashmir State. The committee has issued a warning, asserting that this situation could potentially entail legal disputes, financial losses, and potential fraudulent activities for affected parties.

The committee has called for a thorough investigation into the legal standing of these housing societies, their land ownership, transactions of plots, and official records to shield buyers and curb the misuse of state-owned land. During the visit, officials provided the delegation with information on property records, administrative matters, rental income, illegal construction, and unauthorized occupation. The committee also examined encroachments on the properties.

The committee underlined the significance of Jammu and Kashmir State properties as valuable state assets and called for stringent measures to safeguard them, ensure transparent management, and prevent further illegal construction and unauthorized activities.