Authorities have destroyed 12 illegal housing societies in Sahiwal, razing the concrete structures of the societies in a two-week-long enforcement drive. Owners of four schemes have been sued under Sections 160 and 165 of the Local Government Ordinance 2025 and Sections 160(4) and 175(4) of the LG Ordinance 2022.
Highlights
- 12 illegal housing societies flattened in two weeks: Pakpattan
- 4 scheme owners in dock: Cases against 4 scheme owners, none arrested on pre-arrest bail
- Joint operation of PERA force, police, revenue officials
- No one will be spared in enforcement drive: DC Asif Raza
Joint Operation in the Wake of Negotiations
The societies demolished are under the jurisdiction of the District Council, Pakpattan. The operation was headed by Deputy Commissioner and District Council Administrator Asif Raza, who coordinated the PERA force, local police, and revenue department officials.
Officials said that Raza had already declared all 12 housing schemes illegal through separate notifications and reminders issued before the demolitions started. Most of these societies had reportedly never got their layout plans approved by the Zila Council, a basic legal requirement for any housing development. Enforcement Inspector Muhammad Zeeshan led the demolition, which was carried out only after the district administration exhausted all negotiation options with the scheme owners.
DC Raza spoke bluntly to Dawn on the phone regarding the administration’s approach. “Nobody will be spared, and there is zero tolerance,” he said. Sources said heavy machinery was used to raze structures built inside these illegal societies.
Legal Action Against Owners, No Arrests Yet
Cases have been registered against the owners of four housing societies in Saddar, Rang Shah, Qabola and City police stations in Arifwala, said Raza. So far, none of the owners have been arrested as each had obtained pre-arrest bail from the local tehsil and district courts before enforcement action could catch up with them.
Pakpattan: FIA arrests fake visa agent in separate case
Separately, a fraudulent visa agent was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency in another case of the same district on Wednesday. The suspect, identified as Gulraiz Amjad, is said to have extorted Rs635,000 from a resident of Pakpattan by promising him to find him a job abroad.
Muhammad Saleem, a resident of Hasanpura in Pakpattan city, was allegedly duped by Amjad with a promise of an overseas job in 2025. He is said to have provided Saleem with forged visa documents and told him to take them and go to a Gulf state from Faisalabad. Saleem was deported shortly after he arrived when authorities discovered the documents were fake.
On July 10, 2025, FIA Faisalabad registered a case against Amjad under the Immigration Ordinance, 1979. After the case was registered, the suspect allegedly went underground and evaded the FIA for a long time. The FIA Composite Office has now located him and taken him into custody.
