HYDER ABAD: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court has sought a report from government departments on what action they have taken against land grabbers` mafia, which according to an application the court has received, is relent-lessly occupying state land in and around the division.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi on Tuesday passed the order on an application, filed by Mohammad Hassan and 21 others, which was forwarded to the bench by the SHC, Karachi.

The applicants accused 19 persons, including leaders and activists of Awami National Party, SindhNational Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Peoples Labour Bureau, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Balochistan Liberation Front and a former railway employee, of being part of the land mafia.

They said the apex court, in its action against encroachment of state land three years ago, had imposed a ban on lease of land but certain groups were stillbusy in the illegal activity.

These groups who were aided and abetted by policemen, tapedars and revenue officials first occupied the land and then gotitleasedin collusion with officers although such leases were banned and sold it out to unsuspecting buyers, they said.

They said that whenever the applicants tried to pre-vent them from occupying land, they were harassed and subjected to violence and implicated in false cases.

They called for action against the land mafia under the National Action Plan so as to avoid further loss to national exchequer.

SHC Hyderabad assistant registrar has sent the court`s directive to commissioner,deputy commissioner and incharge of Anti-Encroachment Cell.

The applicants had sent the two-page application to Chief Justice of Pakistan and forwarded its copies to chief justice of SHC, prime minister, federal minister for railways, police authorities, commissioner and deputy commissioner of Hyderabad and others.