KARACHI:
As he chain smokes, real estate agent Siddique* pulls out a memento. “I used to work with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he says, showing a photograph of him with the late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder. “Now this wall built by the PPP government has ruined my business.”
The towering wall cordons off Bilawal House, but has also choked off profits for businesses and left residents struggling for normalcy.
Bilawal House has been officially designated a presidency. When the president is in Karachi, official meetings are held at the Clifton Block 3 address. What was once an upscale residential area with a thriving commercial district is now being abandoned by droves of people.
The District South authorities deny any responsibility for the wall, which Barrister Naimur Rahman says is “completely illegal” because you cannot block a road in front of public housing without “due cause”.
Property prices and rents have fallen. Real estate agent Noor Abrejo says that property in the area used to go for Rs20,000 to Rs26,000 per square foot but was devalued by 10% to 15% after barriers were set up. The owner of a Rs7 million flat would be lucky to get Rs3 million for it, says property dealer Mohammad Bashir.
Rents have also nosedived. “They used to charge 0.05 % of the property’s full value, now it has dropped to around 0.02%,” Bashir said.
Commercial activity has taken a major hit. Bashir and Abrejo claim that a small fraction of the 1,000 shops in the area are still open. According to Bashir, “A cloth market was opening up, but the merchants left once this started. When someone asks for my advice I say there is no point opening a business here.” He has been trying to sell his business for several months but hasn’t found a buyer. Taiyaba Malik, the owner and principal of CornerStones School, moved to the area and invested in a larger property to increase enrolment. But she is faced with parents who constantly complain about road blockades, especially when the president is in town. “This may have been made safer for the president but we don’t feel so. After the blast in Phase VIII we worry that we’re located next to another man who has a lot of enemies.”
A resident said they are advised against sitting on terraces facing Bilawal House because of security risks. “Who would want to live here? When there is VIP movement guards are sent into buildings. They are sitting on top of your head on the roof.”
However, there are mysterious buyers snapping up property. Property dealers estimate that about 80% of the bungalows on the same side as Bilawal House have been sold, but there is no official figure to back this.
Abdul Sami Khan of the Clifton Residents Association says people are selling because they don’t have a choice. “If friends come to visit, their cars are constantly checked by security [officers].” Khan said residents approached the City District Government Karachi and the Sindh chief minister last year but their concerns weren’t addressed.
Adviser to the Sindh chief minister Sharmila Faruqi says that while the wall has inconvenienced people, they “should be thankful because it is extra security and it’s for free.”
Barrister Rahman and Faruqi said people can take the issue to court, but residents feel helpless while there is a PPP-led government. “Is anyone going to bother the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of this illegal wall when it won’t be implemented?” says Amber Alibhai of the NGO Shehri. “Nothing will be done until people take pickaxes and tear it down.” Bashir offers a dramatic comparison. “The day the government changes we can bring down this wall. If the Berlin Wall can fall, so can this one.”
*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s privacy
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (27)
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Firstly I'd like to thank Tribune for bringing this issue to light.. I am a resident of this area and that wall has created havoc for us honestly. It is a menace in my opinion. An area that was previously calm and secure in my opinion has become threatening for me and my family. There was a time when we could go for a long walk but now when we step out of the house we're faced with (no offense) but weird looking police men who do the job of scaring people much better than making them feel safe. This monstrosity blocks light, wind and is generally the worst thing that could have happened for our property value. I can't stop praying for the day that Government changes and this wall comes down because in all honesty I don't see any other way it will come down. In fact I have heard rumors that it will go higher. I don't seem to understand why need so much security when you don't even live here?
This is not the the wall this is the big slap on the face of coward nation. We are happily living like slaves. Those who are in rural area are uneducated or unaware and they dont raise their voice that okay. but those who are educated are double responsible of these crimes.. We are all are waiting for the Mehmood Ghaznavi because of good for nothing, useless, nonsense slaves.. This wall has grabbed two way road which is having value of no less than billion of rupees..
You know, no Wall can protect one if ALLAH S.W.T. wishes. Fear the day this happens. I have seen the most powerful people like gaddafi and Saddam dying in recent years.
This is just not rationale. How long can a wall protect you till? He needs more armed men.
What about all the barriers erected on the entrances of hundreds of streets of Karachi (and perhaps in other cities as well) in the name of security by the "aam admi." It is our mentality to show our pomp by grabbing the rights of public. Everyone does it in proportion to one's stature in society.
Similar is the case in model town lahore... a whole park has been blocked.... Zardari and nawaz are one and the same... see for yourself...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqdFA9sTYiI&nomobile=1
The wall of Bilawal house in Karachi and wall of Shareef family residence in Lahore block access of general public to the public roads are symbols of tyrant rulers. This ruling elite should be buried in the depths of Arabian sea if we want to see a prosperous Pakistan
@Aizaz: Next to impossible but miracles do happen.
I cal this the Gaza strip! Mr. Zaradari--tear down that wall.
A die-hard Benazir Bhutto and PPP supporter.
Hypothetically speaking if all the residents of the area picked up the courage to break down the wall with a loud media campaign to assist it, the wall would not only come down but the people would have sent a loud message and those who hide behind high walls would be forced to rethink policy. Sometimes small acts can produce major results.
well its very easy for raise fingers at other. i have a question for u all...Why didnt anyone comment or didnt request for a suo moto when the new american counslate took control and blocked the road next to NHA's office???atleast its the president house and he is pakistan's president not some US Counsil General.
This clearly shows the level of insecurity to our so called leaders.
They are just hiding their faces from the 'Aam Admi' of Pakistan.
The honorable Mr. President, Asif Ali Zardari, deserves this amount of security, for himself and his family members. They have sacrificed so so many lives for this country and if they make a mere wall for their security is see no big deal in that. <3 u bhutto!
...Sharmila Faruqi says that while the wall has inconvenienced people, they “should be thankful because it is extra security and it’s for free.”
This lady doesn't seem to be in her senses these days. When asked in a program why Rehman Malik has revealed the news about the operations against the extortinist before it got started, she said we did it just to make make the media happy as they were bothering us and enquiring about the timings of the operations. The only admiring thing about this government is that it has plenty of morons
@Imran Mohammad: from public
The ruler consider the whole of the country to be their private property. The tragedy is that their voters don't mind.
I don't live there, but the day this government goes home, I'll make sure I have a fair share to bring this wall down! (Name has not been changed to conceal my privacy) :)
Looks like a DHA housing society if you know what I mean.....
Jiye Bhutto.... anyone?
I frankly think Bilawal house (and its esteemed residents) are a bigger security threat to its adjoining neighbors than vice versa.
Sharmila Faruqi says that while the wall has inconvenienced people, they “should be thankful because it is extra security and it’s for free.”
For free... FOR FREE! We pay taxes to be protected. Unfortunately Ms. Farooqi has never paid any so she won't understand and would always believe that people around Bilawal House get security for free. Like she and others like her are have a free joy ride on our expense.
This is going to continue in Karachi and Lahore at places like Bilawal House and Raiwand till people correct themselves. This problem has penetrated so deep into our culture that this wall can be called the tip of the iceberg. If the base i.e., our own immoralities, weakens, these walls will also fall.
Thanks for highlighting this issue.
A few follow-up questions -
Was the Presidency contacted for a comment? What did they say? If a structure is being built on public property, with no writ, who is in charge of halting the construction? Is it The District South authorities? Why don't they tear the wall down? Before the wall was built, the road in front of Bilawal House was summarily annexed - a road built with tax payer funds. Now both roads have been cut off to the public. Isn't this illegal as well? Who orders the authorities that block these roads to do so? On what basis are those orders issued?Thanks again, and keep up the good work.
Vote for Zardari & Co and you will be chocked to death in years to come
" Democracy is the best revenge". :->