Hushing it up?: UC chairmen oppose report exposing encroachments

The report was presented to SMC officials regarding illegal constructions in parks

SUKKUR: The Sukkur Municipal Corporation (SMC) seems helpless to stop encroachers, backed by the land mafia and influential groups, from occupying municipal land and parks. The assistant director of parks, Jawed Akhtar, presented his report about encroachments in parks during a two-day SMC meeting, which, according to him, was prepared in light of the Sindh High Court's (SHC) orders. However, majority of the union council chairmen strongly opposed the report and tried to hush up the matter.



During the course of the meeting, Akhtar presented a report regarding encroachments in the parks in collusion with the land mafia. According to his report, around 25% of Mohammad Bin Qasim Park has been encroached upon by the Sukkur Press Club. This encroachment has been declared illegal by the district and sessions judge appointed as an inquiry officer by the SHC. Therefore, he proposed the shifting of the press club to another location.

The report added that the park is on an amenity plot, which could only be used for the park. Besides this, another portion of the park has been leased out to a mini amusement park on a monthly basis. The rent of the amusement park is too little and therefore it was proposed to increase its rent according to the market value, stated the report. Referring to the Ladies and Children Park at Pir Ellahi Bux Tower, the report said that the park has been handed over to the education works department for the construction of a library with almost 80% of the plot having been occupied due to the construction. Thus, no space has been left for the garden.

According to the report, the park is still under the occupation of the education works department and a portion of it has been leased out as a canteen, which is also illegal according to the district and sessions judge. It was proposed to get the park back from the education works department and cancel the canteen's lease.

Similarly, the plot of the Mir Masoom Shah Library was given to the building department for renovation of the library six years ago. The work has not yet been completed so it was proposed to hand over the library to the SMC. As far as the Jinnah Municipal Stadium is concerned, it is in a shambles due to the sewerage line passing beneath it. According to the report, the sewerage line has been damaged, due to which stagnant water is causing damage to the ground. It was proposed to shift the sewerage line from under the stadium and to have its flood light repaired through the SMC's electrical and mechanical department.

The report added that Manzil Gah ground was given to the public works department for the construction of a hockey ground in 2013 but the work is still incomplete. The dressing room and toilets constructed in the ground have been leased out to SMC clerk Aijaz Ahmed Shaikh, which, according to the district and sessions judge, is illegal. Children Park in Pak Colony was handed over to the public works department in 2012 for construction work but the park has still not been handed over to the SMC, therefore it should be vacated, the report proposed.

The report sparked arguments among the union council chairmen who strongly opposed it and asked the authorities concerned not to make it part of the meeting's proceedings. SMC Mayor Arsalan Shaikh told The Express Tribune that the matter of encroachments upon municipal parks is a sensitive issue and, therefore, they want to handle it with extreme care. "All the encroachments on public parks will be removed except the press club," he said.

The union council chairmen were reluctant to discuss the matter saying they did not want to spark a new debate. Sukkur Commissioner Muhammad Abbas Baloch claimed that they have removed many encroachments in the past without any discrimination. "If the SMC requests us in writing to remove the encroachments we will do so without succumbing to any pressure," he said.

A few months back some Muttahida Qaumi Movement offices constructed on amenity plots were demolished, including Ghaznavi Park and Pak Colony Park. Similarly, encroachments have also been removed from many roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2017.