KARACHI: Handing over Clifton Beach to ‘profiteers’ slammed
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 18: A leading social scientist has slammed the authorities for failing to confront the menace of encroachment of land by influential people, and raised strong objections to the Defence Housing Authority’s plan to hand over the 14-kilometre-long Clifton Beach to foreign investors for raising plazas, office blocks, five-star hotels, clubs and other commercial facilities, indicating that all such things catered to the needs of only rich class.
Mr Arif Hassan, delivering a lecture on Privatisation of Public Places of Recreation organised by the Pakistan People’s Party at the People’s Secretariat on Monday. The sitting was chaired by Rashid Rabbani, President of the PPP, Karachi Division.
He lamented that while the government did not hesitate for a moment to bulldoze 200-year-old settlements of the poor, it looked the other way when even the storm-water drains were occupied by the elite to build their plazas.
Referring to the DHA’s beach development project, he pointed out that already construction of a park with entrance fee at the Sea View had created a hurdle for the ordinary citizens in enjoying the natural environment.
The forced removal of hundreds of vendors, who had been earning their livelihood here for so many decades by selling eatables to beach visitors at very affordable prices, was a great injustice. Moreover, the prices at which these items were available there, were now way beyond the reach of common citizens.
People who used to earn a living through camel and horse rides or monkey shows are all gone. The craftsmen who had until recently been selling their fancy items directly to their customers at the recreational spot have been made to sell the same to the few ‘authorised’ shops at half the prices. These shops are charging exorbitant prices from their customers.
For centuries fishermen have been benefiting from the beach in earning their livelihood but now they have been stopped from doing so. Migratory birds from Africa and Siberia visiting the beach would also stay away due to the construction of highrises there.Mr Hassan pointed out that nowhere in the world construction along the strait between the sea and coastal road was allowed.
Quoting from the Article 26 (1) of the Constitution, he said that access to places of public entertainment or resorts was a fundamental right which no private person, organisation or state could usurp.
While definite laws existed for the protection of access to public places and environment, it was the duty of various organs of the state to enforce these laws. Even a law violating a fundamental right of citizens would be held void under the Article 8 of the Constitution.
Mr Hassan pointed out that the land that was being privatised did not even belong to the DHA. Construction plans on the land between the sea and coastal road were being looked at with serious concern by the residents of Sea View and adjoining areas. He said that the seashore of Karachi which was already highly polluted would get further polluted by the sewage and waste to be generated by these development projects.
He called for joint action by the civil society and political parties to ensure that the only beach belonging to the citizens of all classes was not handed over to local and foreign profiteers.
Speaking on the occasion, Rashid Rabbani said that for the PPP, citizens came first and their interests took precedence over any other consideration. The party has been struggling to ensure that the quality of life of ordinary citizens improved and their fundamental rights protected.
Mr Rabbani said that the PPP would raise this matter at all forums -- the Senate, National Assembly, Sindh Assembly, City Council Karachi, etc., and would even organise public protest if the decision to privatise the Clifton Beach was not reversed.
