KARACHI: In a daylong operation against illegal structures on the Gujjar nullah, a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation team on Monday removed a cattle pen, a house and other encroachment despite facing stiff resistance from the area people.

The nullah had tapered due to the illegal construction, which was creating hindrance in smooth flow of rainwater and sewage and raising fears of flooding in case of heavy rains in the catchment area, according to a KMC statement.

The operation was carried out by KMC anti-encroachment official Mazhar Khan in the presence of deputy commissioner (district central) Afzal Zaidi and a police contingent that helped to control the encroachers and their supporters who took to the streets while resisting the move.

A large number of area residents and shopkeepers while protesting against the operation blocked traffic on the main road along the nullah. The situation turned violent when the protesters burnt tyres and some wooden stuff on the road and hurled stones at moving vehicles, forcing the authorities to demand police intervention.

The police cordoned off the area and managed to bring an end to the violent protest. But the demonstrators turned down the police appeal to disperse peacefully. “The situation resolved only after deputy commissioner central Afzal Zaidi involved some leaders of the community which were protesting against the KMC operation and held talks with them,” said an official.

“The talks lasted almost an hour and then the demonstrators dispersed peacefully. The police contingent remained deployed around the operation site till the end of the KMC’s daylong drive.”

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2015

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