Pakistan Bar Council has expressed “serious concerns” over the caretaker Punjab government’s decision of handing over at least 45,267 acres of land in three districts — Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal — of the province to the Pakistan Army for “Corporate Agriculture Farming”.
In a Pakistan Bar Council’s Press Release making rounds on social media, it said that Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Haroon-ur-Rashid and Executive Committee of Pakistan Bar Council Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha have expressed “serious concerns” over the matter.
The Press Release also said, “the illegal practice of donating out of the public resources to the army is neither justified nor acceptable to the people of Pakistan”.
The bar council senior members said the notification should be immediately withdrawn, otherwise, the council will pursue the matter in court.
Well done Pakistan Bar Council. Apportioning state lands like a melon must be challenged, resisted. Look at the timing of it. A weak caretaker government in place, political turmoil & militants regrouping, everyone’s attention is focused on existential threats pic.twitter.com/O3hRkfNWMp
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) March 28, 2023
Earlier, the caretaker Punjab government has handed over at least 45,267 acres of land in three districts — Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal — of the province to the Pakistan Army for “Corporate Agriculture Farming”.
According to a letter making rounds on social media, the military land directorate wrote to the provincial officials, including the Punjab chief secretary, Board of Revenue, and secretaries of the agriculture, forest, livestock, and irrigation departments for handing over of at least 45,267 acres land in districts Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal to the Pakistan Army.
The letter reminded the provincial officials of Joint Venture Agreement signed between the army and the Punjab government on March 8, 2023, wherein it was decided that the said land would be handed over to the Pakistan Army.