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Casablanca officials call for investigation into suspicious transfer of municipal land
A controversial transfer of municipal property to a private company has triggered tension within Casablanca’s city council. Several council members are demanding full clarity on what they describe as a questionable land registration process and are calling for immediate administrative and judicial investigations.
During an extraordinary session held on Tuesday, councilors raised concerns about the transfer of a publicly owned plot—originally designated as green space in the Aïn Sebaa district—to a private firm. The discovery of this registration, allegedly carried out without prior approval from the council or an official decision authorizing it, has fueled accusations of improper handling of public assets.
According to multiple council members, the situation came to light when the land was found registered under private ownership, sparking questions about the administrative steps and authorities involved in authorizing the transaction.
Mustafa Haiker, head of the Istiqlal Party group within the council, condemned the incident, stating that no public asset should be allocated to private entities without a clear and lawful justification. He referenced recent remarks by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, who emphasized the need to reclaim misappropriated public property and safeguard communal assets.
Calls for Investigation
Abdelkrim Lahouichri, a representative of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), urged the judiciary to intervene swiftly, criticizing what he described as an “irregular registration” of the land in favor of private interests. He questioned how such a transfer could have occurred during the previous municipal term.
Mustapha Mandour of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) also called for the matter to be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, citing suspicions of public-fund mismanagement and abuse of authority. He stressed that any transfer of municipal ownership legally requires an official contract.
Nasrallah Responds
In response to the escalating criticism, Houcine Nasrallah, the council’s second vice-president responsible for managing communal assets, rejected any implication of the current administration. He maintained that the council operates strictly under the Interior Ministry’s directives to protect and recover municipal lands. “Not a single meter of communal property will be transferred without authorization. Anyone who has taken possession of public land will have to return it or face legal action,” he declared.
Nasrallah added that the current council has received no documents or court rulings confirming the transfer. He questioned the lack of action by previous administrations and expressed surprise that the property could have changed hands “overnight.”
