Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday termed real estate the “biggest mafia in Pakistan”, while he is allegedly actively involved in projecting the same powerful elements in Punjab.
In his statement two days ago, the former premier lamented that the mafia takes hold of the state’s land, before selling it to the general public and sending the proceeds abroad.
“You can’t imagine how powerful they are,” Mr. Khan was quoted as saying during the address.
According to anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada, the former premier has extensively acting as the marketer of the controversial Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project, which is usurping farmers’ agriculture land.
The project, launched in August 2020, is planned to be completed at an estimated cost of $20 billion, over 1,10,000 acres.
He detailed how the former ruling party went to the top court after Lahore High Court (LHC) declared the project illegal in January.
Now, Khanzada added, as the PTI-led government is back in power in Punjab, farmers are once again voicing their anguish about being deprived of their land and threatened for resisting the eviction.
He highlighted that the project was questionable in terms of transparency, feasibility, and environmental safety.
“It is believed to be serving the interests of the powerful real estate builders, with commoners being the victims.”
Imran, on one hand, is condemning the “mafia”, while on the other, is standing firmly with them, the anchorperson concluded.
