Dhudial…The administration of Chakwal district has reclaimed the historic 100-year-old pond, “Baba Hayat Wali Ban,” located in the village of Vero on Neela Road, by removing illegal encroachment. During the British era, this pond was established on land donated by Baba Hayat Muhammad Khan for public welfare to meet the water needs of the people and livestock of various villages along Neela Road. It became widely known as “Baba Hayat Wali Ban.”
On the night of October 31 last year, Arshad Mehmood ( Ansar Mehmood), Nasir Mehmood, and Ghulam Raza unlawfully occupied the pond by filling it with soil. When the revenue officer of the Neela area visited the site on December 18 to inspect the encroachment, the occupiers caused a disturbance and forced him to leave. Subsequently, Deputy Commissioner Chakwal, Qurat-ul-Ain Malik, ordered the immediate removal of the illegal occupation. Following these orders, the revenue officer of the Neela area, Raja Aftab Khalid, along with police personnel, visited “Baba Hayat Wali Ban” on Saturday, measured the public land, and successfully reclaimed it.
According to lawyer Safeer Majid Advocate, who pursued the case, the “Shara’it Wajib-ul-Arz” (Mandatory Village Conditions) formulated during the British era in 1939-40, which hold the status of a local constitution, also list “Baba Hayat Wali Ban” as public property. Under the law, no individual can claim private ownership or use it for personal purposes—it can only be utilized for collective welfare. Therefore, the administration’s action was legally justified.
The heirs of Baba Hayat Muhammad Khan have requested the administration to establish a modern rescue and health center on their ancestral land, which was dedicated to public welfare. They believe this facility would provide emergency medical assistance to affected individuals in case of accidents between Neela Road and Chakwal city.
