Radio Pakistan premises
Land ownership controversy erupts after fire Property is worth billions of rupees
Karachi:A controversy has erupted over the land ownership after Sunday’s raging fire in the Radio Pakistan building, which gutted 15 studios.
The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is the owner of this land worth billions of rupees and is considering occupancy of this land after the huge fire. Reports doing the rounds are that some elements have become active in an effort to shift Radio Pakistan’s Karachi office to a new building in Gulshan-e-Iqbal opposite the Civic Centre. The present premise is rented out to the AG Sindh Building.
CDGK sources maintain that no one would be allowed to sell this prime land. The officials at that time claimed that the land of the present Radio Pakistan building and the Veterinary Hospital were owned by the District Local Government Board, Karachi, and later transferred to the District Council, Karachi.
At that time, the late G.M. Syed used to sit in these two premises as President of the District Local Government Board. The land today is supposed to be owned by the city government. On the other hand, former officials of Radio Pakistan, Karachi, say that this land is owned by Radio Pakistan and was purchased either from the District Local Government Board, Karachi, or the District Council, Karachi, but have yet to produce documentary proof in this regard.
The officials said that when it was purchased there was a binding stipulation that this land will only be utilised for the construction of Radio Pakistan Building. Now, after the fire, the building presents a haunted look and transmissions are running with some temporary set ups, Radio Pakistan sources claimed.
It is also being reported that there is a big conspiracy behind Sunday’s massive blaze pertaining to the plans of some Radio Pakistan officials in Lahore and Islamabad to sell this land worth billions of rupees, despite that it has been declared as a heritage building.
According to the plan, say these officials, it will be shown that the Radio Pakistan building is already operating in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and hence all operations should be shifted there and the old building, along with its land, should be disposed of.
According to real estate agents, the land in question is worth billions of rupees. However, a former KMC official, when contacted by The News, said that CDGK is the successor of all the district councils, and, accordingly, the ownership rights of both the pieces of land – Radio Pakistan, Karachi, and the Veterinary Hospital – belong to the CDGK.
The former official, who desired to remain anonymous, said that under Sections 80-81, the CDGK was the successor of the district council. Thus the land is owned by the CDGK. Replying to a question, he said that no one can sell this land without the consent of the CDGK.
Source: The News
Date:10/30/2007
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