Islamabad : Former President ICCI Shahid Rasheed Butt on Thursday said the operation against influential land mafia is a step in the right direction which is necessary to restore the confidence of masses and genuine businessmen.

This operation is a test for the government therefore it should continue without any discrimination, he said.

The influential mafia is not only grabbing state lands but also depriving masses of their hard-earned money and lands while taking the economy as a hostage, he added.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that the land mafia has taken economy as hostage and masses can be saved from it if an independent department is established and rules are improved.

He noted that there are more than ten thousand illegal housing societies in the country plundering masses which must face the law.

The business leader said that industry hardly earns 10 to 12 percent profit while property business make 70 to 100 percent risk-free profit per annum which has diverted the flow of investment in this sector.

The wrong preference has kept country underdeveloped, dependent on loans, keeping production costly, low exports, high imports, extraordinary unemployment, and brain drain, he said.

He noted that qabza mafia is hand in glove with government officials and patwari mafia to rob people of their money while those who seek justice end up wasting more money and time.

This mafia is also plundering expatriates with no relief to the victims, therefore, the government should establish special courts to deal with such issues and provide relief to the masses, he demanded.

The masses must stand united against the mafia that has shattered the moral fabric of the society for their profit.