Karachi, Altaf Shakoor, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday accused housing cooperative societies in Karachi of engaging in extensive frauds that exploit poor allottees, with alleged government complicity. Shakoor’s statements come in the wake of a recent Sindh High Court decision that highlighted illegal activities within these societies, including plot occupations worth billions of rupees.
According to Pasban Democratic Party, the Sindh High Court has taken significant steps by suspending the registrar of cooperative societies and overturning the promotion of a key official involved in the oversight of these societies. The court’s actions respond to illegal plot occupations and the systemic corruption that Shakoor claims is facilitated by the political elite in Sindh, who receive bribes in exchange for appointive positions within these organizations.
Shakoor detailed how appointed registrars, often secured through substantial bribes, exploit their positions by illegally selling and occupying plots. He described the housing cooperatives as part of a larger, organized land fraud mafia operating under the protection of Sindh’s political leaders. Furthermore, Shakoor criticized the fraudulent practices within the societies’ elections, suggesting that they perpetuate the control of these mafias.
In response to the court’s recent decisions, Shakoor has called for the formation of a judicial commission to thoroughly investigate these allegations and to ensure justice and protection for the allottees affected by these scams.