THIS is apropos of Dr Jahanzeb Effendi’s letter ‘Rangers’ protection and encroachment’ (Jan 7). It is regarding encroachment of one of the main arteries of the city by Rangers’ personnel for ensuring their protection. But there are many such encroachments in the city which I want to bring to the notice of the public through these columns.

In Clifton Khayabana a 150-foot-wide road from Bilawal Chowrangi to Beach Park has recently been encroached upon and has been made a part of the Bilawal House compound. Initially, half of this road was encroached upon by putting huge iron grilles, costing hundreds of millions from the public exchequer.

Now the whole road has been encroached upon by erecting an eight-foot-high wall, costing more than a hundred million rupees, along the service road for providing security. This is such a blatant transgression of public rights by the very people who are constitutionally bound to protect these rights.

Just opposite Bath Island, the Iranian Embassy has occupied the footpath by constructing a concrete wall around it. The British Consulate has also encroached upon footpaths and a part of the road. The US Embassy on Mai Kolachi Road has erected a wall similar to the one Israelis have built to keep out Palestinians. This has been newly constructed and such security arrangements could have been made well within the premises of the building instead of occupying the public’s right of way.

Same is the situation in the vicinity of many other diplomatic offices and residences in the city. A main road leading to Frere Park in Civil Lines remains closed due to the US Counsel General’s office being there.

In Bath Island, a public thoroughfare remains closed to the general public for the past many years for the sole reason that the residence of the corps commander and the Ridge House (headquarters of ISI and MI) are situated there. Now the spying agencies have erected a concrete wall permanently blocking this road in such a way that even the residents of Sindh government houses and Beverly Houses have to prove their identity for entering their own abodes.

Likewise, Coast Guards too have encroached upon half of the road leading from the Sindh Secretariat to the Karachi Press Club and Saddar. Air Warfare College authorities have closed one lane on the busy Sharea Faisal for security reasons.

The Sindh government itself has closed the road in front of the provincial assembly for public transport. On main Clifton Road, the Cantonment Board has allowed residents to close the service road, as a multi-storey building is being constructed on the former location of Mideast Hospital.

The city administration and provincial government authorities are requested to take appropriate measures by removing these encroachments in the greater public interest. Besides, these obstacles put the lives of the people in great danger.

AKBER ALI KAZI Karachi