KARACHI, Aug 23: A large number of residents, including women and children, of Shabrati Goth in Federal B Area staged a demonstration at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday against land grabbers who, they said, were attacking and threatening them to vacate the land and the police were not helping them against the mafia.

Led by Mohammad Sadiq and Mohammad Yousuf, the protesters said they had been living in the goth — situated behind the Aisha Manzil post office — for over 60 years and most of the residents were daily wage earners.

They said the land grabbers who had the support of government officials and police had been extending threats to them for the past several months and had attacked the goth at least twice.

They said the area police had rejected their request to register an FIR against those involved in the attacks and threats.

They said owing to its location, the land had become expensive and the grabbers, who were even offering money to them, were after the prized land.

They warned that they would not leave their homes at any cost, and asked the authorities to provide protection to the goth residents and take action against the local land mafia.