27 illegal housing societies exposed on Kashmir state land in Lahore, citizens face risk of fraud

A major land controversy has surfaced in Lahore after a Senate subcommittee discovered that 27 allegedly illegal housing societies

Lahore / islamabad:  A major land controversy has surfaced in Lahore after a Senate subcommittee discovered that 27 allegedly illegal housing societies have been established on land belonging to Jammu and Kashmir State, where plots are reportedly being sold to unsuspecting citizens and houses have already been constructed.

The alarming situation came to light during an inspection by the Senate Subcommittee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions, raising serious questions about illegal occupation, property management and the possible misuse of valuable state land.

According to information presented during the visit, several housing societies are allegedly selling plots on official Kashmir State land, while many buyers are unaware of the actual ownership of the properties.

The situation has raised fears that innocent citizens could become victims of possible property fraud, suffer heavy financial losses or face legal action over land they believed they had purchased lawfully.

The Senate delegation, led by Subcommittee Convenor Senator Nasir Mahmood Butt, inspected Jammu and Kashmir State properties in Sultanpuri, Rehmanpura and Nolakha Bazaar.

Senators Naseema Ehsan and Nadeem Bhutto accompanied the convenor during the inspection, which focused on the ownership, management and protection of state properties.

During the visit, it emerged that 27 allegedly illegal housing societies had been established on official land belonging to Jammu and Kashmir State.

Plots in these societies are reportedly being sold to the public, while several individuals have already constructed residential buildings on the disputed land.

The committee was informed that many citizens purchasing plots or building houses in these areas do not know that the land officially belongs to Jammu and Kashmir State.

This has created serious concerns over the legal position of the housing societies and the future of families who may have invested their savings in these properties.

The committee expressed concern over the situation and stressed the need for a detailed examination of the legal status of all 27 housing societies.

Members emphasized that the ownership of the land, the sale and purchase of plots and the relevant official documents must be carefully examined to establish the facts and protect the rights of citizens.

The committee also reviewed unauthorized construction, illegal occupation and encroachments on Jammu and Kashmir State properties.

Another important issue examined during the inspection was the rental income generated from state properties, along with the records relating to their management.

The scrutiny of rental income and property records has brought attention to the need for greater financial transparency in the management of these valuable assets.

However, the committee did not disclose any confirmed amount of financial loss, misappropriated rental income or money allegedly collected through illegal plot sales.

The concerned authorities briefed the senators on the current condition of the properties, administrative matters and the official records available for examination.

The committee members stressed that Jammu and Kashmir State properties are valuable public assets and must be protected against illegal construction, unauthorized occupation and other unlawful activities.

They also called for transparent management of these properties to ensure that public assets are not used without legal authority.

The senators warned through their observations that the continued sale and development of disputed state land could create serious legal and financial problems for ordinary citizens.

The committee emphasized that the legal ownership of the properties and the status of housing societies must be properly verified to prevent possible fraud and protect people from losing their investments.

The inspection has also brought attention to the wider issue of how state properties are being managed and whether existing measures are sufficient to prevent encroachments and unauthorized commercial activities.

The three day proceedings of the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan, States and Frontier Regions concluded in Lahore, with members inspecting various Jammu and Kashmir State properties on November 10 and 11.