KARACHI, May 27: Law enforcement agencies cordoned off Baitul Hamza, headquarters of Mohajir Qaumi Movement, early Tuesday morning to provide a security shield to the demolishing staff and other officials of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) in their operation to demolish the building.

A heavy contingent of police and rangers was deployed around Baitul Hamza whereas the road leading to the headquarters from Qauidabad was closed for traffic, the residents said.

“We had nothing to do with the demolition process. We were asked by the KBCA for a backup support in their encroachment removal operation,” the DIG Operations Tariq Jamil told Dawn over telephone during the day.

He said the police and rangers had cordoned off Baitul Hamza in order to maintain law and order during the demolition process. About 500 policemen were deployed and 15 police mobile vans were there to meet any eventuality, he said and added: “We did not confine the people, living around Baitul Hamza, to their homes. However, we closed the roads for traffic on both sides of Baitul Hamza and did not allow the people to assemble that could lead to any law and order situation.”

Besides, he said, police pickets were also established at various points in Landhi to keep an eye on miscreants and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the locality. “All the measures were taken for the safety of the area people,” he added.

Mr Jamil said: “We have not taken anyone into custody as no unlawful activity took place in the area.”

However, the residents claimed that the police had confined those living around Baitul Hamza to their homes. They alleged that the people intending to enter the area around Baitul Hamza were not allowed to do so.

A spokesman for the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, popularly known as ‘Haqiqi’, claimed that women police officials were deployed in the vicinity of Baitul Hamza and they manhandled the women who wanted to come out of their homes for shopping or other purposes. He said that the police even misbehaved with elders and they also were not allowed to go out of their homes.

Panic gripped Landhi following demolition of Baitul Hamza. A visit to the area gave the impression that residents were quite fearful of an emerging situation.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement has opened its unit offices at many places in Landhi and Korangi where party songs were being played in connection with the upcoming byelection for NA-255. However, panic and fear seemed preventing the area people to take part in political activities.

A local resident pointed out that a roadside restaurant, which remained crowded till late hours in the past, turned deserted since the Muttahida had taken over Landhi, He was of the view that the people were afraid of the political change as they were unable to calculate as to how long the Muttahida could prolong its control over the area dominated by its rival faction and whether the Muttahida could sustain its existence in case of ‘their ouster from the government’.