Crackdown on land-grabbers launched in Logar

PUL-I-ALAM (PAN): The authorities in central Logar province on Wednesday launched a crackdown on influential figures having grabbed thousands of acres of state-owned land.

Governor Arsala Jamal told Pajhwok Afghan News about 15,000 acres of government land had been encroached illegally across the province over the past one and a half decade.

He claimed the occupants had produced forged ownership documents to the authorities concerned, saying almost all state land had been retaken in Logar.

The governor added a commission had been authorised to retake the land from encroachers. A piece of land belonging to the provincial jail was retaken on Wednesday as part of the campaign.

He said the retaken property measuring five acres had been allotted for the jail during Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan’s government.

Some individuals had illegally built a wall around the land, but the commission returned the land to the jail authorities, the governor explained. The swoop will continue until all seized land was taken back.

Provincial council chief, Dr. Abdul Wali Wakil, said large swathes of public and private land had been grabbed in Logar, saying public representatives were supportive of the action against illegal occupants.

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