From Qazi Shoaib Khan ATTOCK, DEC-16: /DNA/ – The higher authorities kept mum over the mushrooming growth of encroachments on the state land within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Attock, Hazro as well as along the inter-provincial route of Punjab-KPK near Hassanabdal, Hattian,  green belt Kamra Cantt, Gondal Mondi up to Attock Khurd causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer ignoring directives of the Government to retrieve occupied land from the clutches of the influential “Bhatta Mafia”. During a detailed survey, it has been revealed that the commercial plazas, filling stations, restaurants, shops, private buildings worth of rupees millions illegally constructed by the land grabbers in flagrant violation of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976, Punjab Building and Zoning Regulations 2007 even without getting any formal NOC from the Ministry of Defense, NHA, District Administration, NH&MW Police, Cantonment Boards, Provincial Highways Department, Public Health Department and Police. Earlier, in a massive operation of the Tehsil Municipal Administration of Hazro jointly carried out by the Punjab Highways department, public health engineering department, district administration and police demolished the scores of fences, sheds and other encroachments including sunshades, grills, walls and extended portions of shops with heavy machinery while meat stalls, cabins and pushcarts on footpaths were also confiscated which were causing traffic gridlocks besides nuisance for the general public on major roads near Hattian chowk, Jehanian chowk, Tarbela Chowk, Fawara Chowk, Toll Tax Plaza, Dua Chowk, Stadium Chowk and Gondal Mandi Chowk. The anti-encroachment team also removed cement slabs from rain drains placed by owners of meat shops. The unbridled encroachers are also razing illegal shopping plazas along the inter linked road of Gondal Hazro with the blessing of Revenue Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration, Punjab Highways department through their front men involved in the real state business. The state land of Gondal Mandi  being a trade hub having population of more than 10 thousands is also a focal inter-linked point with more than 84 villages of Tehsils Hazro and Attock is situated along the inter provincial bordering route of KPK-Punjab contributing more than Rs.200 millions per annum to the budget. Unfortunately,  the state land within the prescribed limits of National Highways Authority is being frequently grabbed  by the”  Qabza Mafia” for unlawful and authorized construction of  plazas, filling stations,  car washing service decks, restaurants, tea stalls,  shops, car parkings,  adjacent with the Grave yard,  Rural Health Centre, Cattle lock up, Govt Boys School, Police Chowki, Service road, up to Nallah Chail Bridge with the connivance of their abettors . The flow of traffic usually remains blocked specially during the weekly cattle market on every Monday  whereas the  mobile squad of local police and motor police on duty seems helpless due to mushrooming growth of encroachments. Even, the Bus Bays and foot paths of both sides are occupied by the illegal parking of public transports causing public nuisance besides fatal accidents of the senior citizens, women, children and general public at large. On the other hands,  life threats of Dengue virus are also hovering on the drainage system near foot path of  Bus Bay  chocked by the encroachers leading towards Nallah Chail resulting the redundant raining water spread over the link roads of the main National Highways. The complaints of encroachments in this area reached at the alarming situation within a few months under the shelter of the  influential racket while the issues were also reported to all the relevant authorities through written, media, and other forums but nothing could be heard till to date with the obvious reasons. The socio-political and general public of the area demanded of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister of the Punjab and other helm of affairs of the country with the humble request to kindly look  into the consideration besides taking strict action against the delinquents posing life threats to common people as and financial loss to the national exchequer since long in particular. The socio-political circles of the areas told this scribe that an active campaign against the illegal occupants was launched by the district management of Attock to take over  the state lands from the possession  of the influential land grabbers throughout  the district in line with the other parts of the country in pursuance of orders 2018 of the Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan.  However, the drive was held in abeyance due to some political pressure being genuine issues of public importance. Meanwhile, the Director National Highways Authority Maintenance Division Rawalpindi Mr. Inam ur Rehman and Assistant Director Raja Obaid while giving their version on these multiple complaints told that the entire case was forwarded to the District Administration Attock for demarcation of the state land before taking further legal action, accordingly.