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4 KDA officials injured, vehicles set ablaze as anti-encroachment drive turns violent in Karachi
A team of Karachi Development Authority's (KDA) anti-encroachment cell was shot at and pelted with stones, allegedly by land grabbers, in Korangi area on Tuesday, according to the authority's spokesperson.
"Unknown miscreants" also set fire to 3-4 motorcycles at a workshop, an estate agency and a scrap car during the violence, police said.
The team was conducting an operation in the Mehran Town area of Korangi when they faced severe resistance, the KDA spokesperson said.
The development authority's representative claimed that three employees of KDA's Estate and Enforcement department were injured as enraged protesters attacked them. A KDA photographer also sustained injuries.
The encroachment operation was stopped following the violence, police said.
The injured have been shifted to a hospital for treatment, while KDA officials are in the process of getting a first information report (FIR) registered against the attackers.
A statement issued in the evening quoted Korangi Industrial Area (KIA) police as saying that the KDA officials were injured during the pelting of stones.
Seven people involved in the violence, including those who allegedly opened fire on police, were arrested during an operation started by law enforcement agencies in the area. A 9mm pistol was also seized.
Taking notice of the episode, Inspector General of Police Sindh Dr Syed Kaleem Imam directed the DIG East to submit a report after conducting an inquiry and provide details of actions taken by the police.
He instructed the SSP Korangi to ensure the implementation of law while following the prescribed rules and regulations.
The KDA, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and other civic bodies, backed by law enforcers, are currently carrying out anti-encroachment operations throughout the metropolis on the orders of the Supreme Court.
On November 11, the authorities had demolished more than 1,000 shops in four markets in the surroundings of the iconic Empress Market, while a 'grand operation' along both tracks of the Karachi Circular Railway was to be launched on Monday.
Comments (54) Closed
They should accompanied by Ranger to control such incidents.
Don't let land grabbers and mafia get away for occupying free land and causing road congestions!
Shameful act by land mafia
Excellent. No violation of law should be allowed in any field and at any level. The supremacy of law should prevail.
good
They should have policemen or rangers with them at all times. These land grabbers are dangerous men willing to do anything to defend their illegal occupation
Great job . Clear the city of these illegal occupation.
What about the rich? When do we remove their encroachments???
Enough is enough. LEA's should deal with lawbreakers with iron hand. Structures made on illegally occupied land must be demolished. If it will not be done on the orders of Supreme Court this time, it can't be done in future as well.
I am more worried that once the process of demolition of illegally occupied structures is completed which department will ensure to make sure that people who vacate premises will not come back and again construct shops and houses on the vacated land.
I hope to see empress market like my grand parents use to tell.
Land mafia must be eliminated at any cost, the government will achieve its goal of bringing corruption in control.
There is no doubt that no one should be above the law but the question is will the same operation cleanup be done in areas like Katti Pahari, Pak Colony, Sheereen Jinnah Colony, Pehelwan Goth, Memon Goth, Sorabh Goth, Kimari, Defence, Clifton, Bath Island etc.? Or will it be on the lines similar to the across the board operation going on in Urban Sindh for the last few years.
Those who ruled during last decades the join in hands to loot are responsible for such a trash of encroachments, and today the innocent dwellers are left to suffer. Political designs seen at the back drop of current gigantic operations carried out by Sindh Govt which itself responsible for every encroachment. At behest of the elite looters Sindh Govt trying to bring people on streets against the Apex Court., to create law and order situation and thenafter find some NRO to save their skin. But that not going to happen.
The matter is this that chief justice also have to order for arrest of those kids and kmc officials who gave cover to all encroachments. Even the big shots are involved in it.
Always police should accompany for this kind of action. Governments cannot run if small groups like this Or TLP interfere in routine operations. People who injured employees must be dealt with stern actions.
Was no security provided to anti-encroachment staff while they were doing their job?
Get hard with them, rule of law is a must for one welfare state...
Sorry the writ of law must be held and land mafia defeated for once and all. It is great move by government if successful it should help to deter all sort of law breakers in other areas. Civil society should also help and support.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, well said. I went to Karachi recently brother it's a mess but things are better now roads are not blocked. Karachi looks like so big from my village comparison wise from Interior Sindh. I feel scared sometime because I get nervous with so many people in any big city of the world.
Good going Supreme Court thank you for clearing the mafias.
What the police and rangers were doing to protect the staff? Rangers must ensure their presence wherever operation goes. Karachi must not surrender in front of land grabbers and encroachment mafia.
When are they going to take action against Bahria Town Karachi? Malik Riaz is the biggest Land Grabber in Pakistan..
The Govt. must go ahead with its plan to clean Karachi from the encroachments and should not budge an inch against the hooligans, who want to sabotage this operation. The LEAs should provide full support to the KMC and KDA to complete their jobs in pursuance to the Supreme Court directives, as this is the first time, that the apex court has allowed the State Institutions to end the menace of encroachment, which has given an ugly shape to this beautiful city of Karachi. The KMC and KDA have mammoth support of public for continuing with such operations, therefore, this operation must continue at all costs.
An examplary response is needed against these criminals who injured our government employees and disrupted their work. No sympathy for these goons anymore.
Who is backng the land mafia.
...and those who allowed these encroachments and made millions....roam free. Is that fair ?
Why is the state allowing this? First of all, Sindg Government should be answerable and then federal government.
Take strict action against land mafia. NO MERCY.
PAkistan railway must find alternate shelter,accommodation for displaced women.
The poor are fighting back.
I wish the PTI government carries out a similar operation for removal of encroachments here in Abbottabad.
However, despite having been in power in the KP since May 2013, there has been no such will shown by the PTI's KP government officials, or the concerned twon / tehsil / district authorities in Abbottabad.
Even when the town / tehsil / district administration does carry out any campaign against the encroachers and intruders, that bid is foiled because of the support enjoyed by the offenders from the local politicians including the local PTI MPAs and MNAs.
There is also a dire need to fix at reasonable levels the official rates --- and strictly enforce those rates --- in transactions involving the sale, purchase, and renting of land and property.
People saying this is because of the land mafia are fooling themselves. When the State will take away someone's livelihood, what do we expect to happen? Officers in KMC should be held responsible for allowing these encroachments and collecting rent/quasi-bribes for decades.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani,
Mr. Anti-Corruption_Pakistani,
Correct.
No mercy should be shown to these miscreants. They should be sent to prison and asked to compensate for the loss of damaged cars etc.
The construction on illegally occupied lands and areas must be demolished as soon as possible.
And what about the encroachment of bilawal house?
When comes this time or turn?
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan,
Mr. Sab Se Pehle Pakistan,
You are right.
This responsibility goes to the Sindh government which is the most corrupt provincial government in Pakistan, unfortunately.
@Imtiaz Ali Khan,
Mr. Imtiaz Ali Khan,
I am old enough and have a wish that before my death I may see Karachi once again as it was before four decades.
Beautiful, Greenry Bright, Clean, etc.
@Jalbani Baloch,
Mr. Jalbani Baloch,
And also the encroachment of bilawal house which is the residence of so-called leader of poor citizens of Sindh.
@Abdel Rahman ,
Mr. Abdel Rahman,
Please increase your knowledge.
Don't you know that Sindh government is most corrupt provincial government for decades in Pakistan?
I am surprised by the unshamefulness of KBCA/SBCA and Sindh government when it comes to encroachment in Mehran Town. It has been going on since last many years so where were these people during last many years. The entire green belt between Mehran Town and KIA has been occupied by people who are involved in crime as well as doing Kabza for the mafia. Without these criminals getting support from politicians, Police and KBCA/SBCA all this Kabza cannot happen. I know this area very well as i had a plot in Mehran town which i was forced to sell as some people had occupied it illegally. Inspite of my complain to police nothing had happened so i was forced to sell the plot at the price they had offered. Plots in Mehran town were cheap couple of years ago but now they have become very expensive. The so called political workers of all parties including PPP, MQM, ST, ANP and others were involved in Kabza and the game continues till today with the blessing of KBCA/SBCA, Police and Politicians
Not surprising considering the callous behavior anathema of good governance. The surprise is that it did not happen earlier; people were too stunned to react.
Clean up the cities and towns in Pakistan, clean out the garbage , and enough water and electricity for every one.this is the basic minimum.
All rich included imran khan are asked pay little money and regularise their illegal properties but poor people are being crushed. No beauty of city can justify thousands of people loosing their livelihood. Provide these poor people some alternative before destroying everything they have. What about DHA and Bahria who occupied millions of acre accross pakistan but they are safe beacsue all judges, generals and rich politicans live there.
Alas ! Mafia has halted one of the best development made by KDA in their entire history . They should continue doing their job and make out bright city beautiful again .
Free Karachi from illegal occupations and land mafia. Make Karachi beautiful again.
Land mafia must brought to justice and punished
violent offenders should face violence and jail.
What happened was wrong...however, under the umbrella of anti-encroachment they have also demolished/ destroyed legal properties and are not listening to people. There are 2 sides of this drive.
Happened with me...later we went to the anti-encroachment head (once they were willing to listen) and they said oh sorry we made a mistake!.....now who will pay for all the destruction and the mental trauma for entire family members young and old ?
This is happening because Govt handle rich and poor differently. In the case of Bahria Town for example no demolition is done and I am sure that it will be settled amicably through court.
These elements should be dealt with an iron hand and should be made an example for others.
Those who Involved in this Chaos must be Jailed for 4 Years. Whats Law Doing here ? against these Heretics
Army and rangers personal should be used to carry out the task in a smooth way.
This is the only thing we are good at. Be it a lawyers, doctor or general public etc.
I am sure IK will not leave women and children in cold. He must have a plan for them.
These are teething pains and will eventually go away when the dust settles.