KARACHI: The city adminis­tration has launc­hed a drive to clear a park near Tariq Road from encroachments in compliance with a recent directive of the Supreme Court, an official said on Sunday.

During the recent proceedings, the Supreme Court was informed that a piece of land, measuring around 1,100 square yard, shown as a park in PECHS on main Tariq Road had been encroached upon.

The apex court expressed resentment at the administrator of the district municipal corporation-East when he requested it to pass an order about the removal of a mosque situated on the park land. The court while observing that it was his duty to restore public spaces directed him to ensure the removal of encroachments in a week and restore the land as a park.

A senior police officer, who wished not to be named, said that a seminary, some shops and a house had been demolished during the anti-encroachment drive on Sunday.

He said the mosque built on the land remained intact as no one tried to raze it.

He hoped that the operation would be completed on Monday (today).

The officer told Dawn that they did not face any resistance from any quarter during the operation.

He said that the district administration had so far not sought the help of law enforcement agencies for removal of the mosque built there.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022