Karachi: Blatant violation of building control rules in the megacity Karachi has marred its housing sector and encouraged the land mafia not only to occupy government lands but also the private property including illegal conversion of amenity plots into commercial ventures, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday.He said when the land mafia occupy amenity plots, the sufferers are the law abiding citizens. The corrupt government functionaries fully support the land mafia and protect the occupiers. He said this is why the megacity lacks public parks, hospitals, schools and playgrounds because the plots allocated by these purposes in different housing societies and localities are occupied by the land mafia for pure commercial use. In this regard, he gave the example of Kathiawar Memon Housing Society, where amenity plots are being used for commercial purposes and the matter is under litigation.He said not only in Kathiawar Memon Housing Society but also in dozens of other housi ng societies and schemes the situation is the same and lands and plots allocated for public welfare purposes are occupied by the powerful land mafia supported by the corrupt officials of government. He said these housing societies don't hold fair elections and a mafia-like network runs their affairs.Altaf Shakoor demanded posting of honest officials in both building control authority and cooperative societies department, which are presently the dens of corruption. He said district administration and local police also facilitate the land grabbers which further complicates the matter.Altaf Shakoor said that as per an estimate some 8 million people in Pakistan do not possess any home. This huge demand in the housing sector is the main factor behind the thriving land mafia, especially in the megacity Karachi, where housing shortage is just acute.He demanded establishing satellite towns in the suburbs of Karachi to boost the supply side and discourage the land mafia from exploiting innocent citizens. He aske d a stern action against the corrupt government officials who back the illegal occupation of public and private lands, especially the amenity plots.