News Story

Chitral— A poor gentleman in Chitral has sought media help against a powerful land mafia that has sold his land through bogus documents. In a press conference here in Chitral,  Mr. Sultan, a resident of Goboor Valley of Lutkoh told his story to the media. The man was in tears and his body was shaking in grief and desperation.

According to him Haider Ali Shah whose father used to be an Ataleeq [a tax collector] in the former princely state of Chitral, has sold his land to Muhammad Fiaz, son of Dolat Bai, producing bogus documents.  He said that Chitral has been merged with Pakistan long ago but under the pretext of taxation Ataleeq family continues to harass people to grab their lands.

Crying in front of the journalists Sultan told that the land which is currently in his possession has been their land for about 8 generations.

“It was a barren landscape but our forefathers fertilized it after extreme handwork and we own it for many generations” The man said.

He further said that the mafia group headed by Fiaz, in collaboration of local administration has occupied his land and is hell bent on dislocating his family.

He alleged that they [ the private tax collectors] have taken the Usher [10th part of property] before. They were asking for it again, and upon refusal they tortured them.

The man also accused that the mafia targets women in the families to smear their character if the people do not accede to what they demand. Women, in Chitral are considered symbol of honour and when a powerful mafia gets to revenge from or to suppress a man, woman becomes the first to be targeted so that shame could be brought to the rival’s family. He alleged the Garam Chisma Police to be with the mafia in harassing poor people.  

Mr. Sultan told that last year on the request of the powerful land mafia, Garam Chisma police tortured him and his family members.

He appealed to the Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court, Chief Minister Khyber Pahtonkhwa, DCO and DPO Chitral to stop Fiaz and his group to do the looting. The desperate man warned that in case of any law and order situation, local administration would be responsible for the mishap.