IN the past two decades, public parks, playgrounds, amenity plots and properties belonging to Karachi’s corporations have fallen prey to the hands of land grabbers. North Nazimabad, once a systematically organised area, has now been badly mauled and mutilated. Its parks and playgrounds have been treated like private properties by influential local political groups, with the collusion of black sheep in the local administration.

Many parks and playgrounds have been illegally occupied, apartment buildings were constructed and sold. Some of the parks and playgrounds were illegally given to so-called contractors, who converted them into privately-run sports grounds and still being run on a rental basis. After getting the custody of the grounds, backed by the corrupt in the administration, the contractors stopped the public and neighbours from using the ground.

Recently the Madani Ground in Block I, North Nazimabad, was occupied by a so-called contractor. First, boundary walls of the ground were raised high to prevent residents from watching the activities inside the ground. Then gates were shut using locks. Suspicious activities in and around the ground were observed by neighbours.

Children could not use the playground and, therefore, started playing in the streets, which caused many accidents. Now the obscured ground area was a perfect shelter for criminals, and soon street crimes in the vicinity climbed up.

After continuous efforts, spread over two years, the residents started raising their voice through civil society, TV channels newspapers and demonstrations and rallies.Within weeks support came from many corners.

Further, they started playing cricket, table tennis and other games on the main road as token to express their demands. Soon the police and Rangers intervened and assured the residents that all necessary support would be given to them. The deputy commissioner took personal interest and issued a notification that the playground was meant for the local community. We request all authorities, civil society and others to support us.

Irshad Ahmed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017