ISLAMABAD by EHSAN BUKHARI
A shocking case of alleged collusion between the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) in Rawalpindi, a powerful land mafia, and police officials has come to light, where a woman is being harassed and her husband jailed in an attempt to illegally seize her legally-owned house.
The victim, Maimoona Malik, wife of Sarfaraz Malik, has appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for immediate intervention and justice against what she describes as a relentless campaign of coercion and intimidation.
According to Maimoona, she and her husband legally purchased and transferred House No. 3-A, Sector 4-B, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Rawalpindi, in December 2024 after fulfilling all legal requirements. However, their ownership was soon challenged by a group allegedly led by Rabia Malik and Malik Abdul Razzaq.
Maimoona accused the group of operating with political backing, hiring local thugs, and enlisting the help of police to harass her family. “For the last six months, Malik Abdul Razzaq and his associates have kept me under constant psychological torment and have tried to forcibly occupy my legal house,” she stated.
The harassment, she claims, extends beyond the attempted property grab. The family has been subjected to immense financial and mental pressure to relinquish ownership of the property worth millions of rupees.
The situation escalated severely when her husband, Sarfaraz Malik, described as a law-abiding citizen, was implicated in a fabricated First Information Report (FIR) at the Pir Wadhai Police Station. He was subsequently sent to jail and allegedly subjected to violence.
“During his imprisonment, I was also repeatedly threatened and pressured to sign over the property,” Maimoona revealed, alleging that the pressure tactics were directly linked to forcing the transfer of the house’s ownership.
In a grave allegation, Maimoona claimed that local officials of PHATA are complicit in the scheme. She stated that these officials, in collusion with the land mafia, have made illegal alterations to the property records without her knowledge, facilitating the attempted takeover.
Fearing for her safety and the loss of her home, Maimoona Malik has made a desperate appeal to the highest authorities. She has called upon Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take immediate action against the corrupt officials and the influential land mafia for their alleged collusion.
She demands strict legal action to be taken to ensure that justice is served and her family’s rightful property is protected. The case highlights the ongoing challenges citizens face from powerful land-grabbing networks often accused of operating with impunity.
