Pakistan: Sindh protests against Army's land grab attempt

The land is being granted under the umbrella of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military body that was set up by General Asim Munir in June to attract foreign investments in the country, reported Asian Lite.

Regional political parties have been hosting conferences and marches to demonstrate the way the Army is trying to threaten the existence of locals.

The most recent conference was held at Thatta Press Club under the banner of Awami Tehreek. A large number of writers, intellectuals, poets, lawyers, writers, political and social leaders of Sindh participated in the conference called out the land grab attempt by the army and its proxy companies, the news portal reported.

The Sindh government has recently issued a notification to hand over 52000 acres to a private company MS Green Corporate Initiative,  firm allegedly owned by the Pakistani Army.

The firm was registered in August this year with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and around 99% of shares in the firm are held by the Pakistan army through its nominee, Major General (retd). Shahid Nazir. Nazir heads the Land Information and Management System – Center of Excellence, set up in July this year, reports Asian Lite.

The army has already occupied vast tracts of land in the name of defence housing societies, plots for the families of martyrs and retired Generals, and now under the name of farming, at least a million acres in Sindh is on the anvil, reported the news portal.