Karachi mayor promises to rid park of encroachments

Criticises Sindh govt for poor condition of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Park

KARACHI: During a visit to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Park on Wednesday, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar said they will remove all kinds of encroachments from the park.



The park was taken over by the Sindh government from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in December last year. A sailing club in the park, being used for commercial purpose, was operational in the park and was separated through a wall. The wall was also razed to the ground in the presence of the mayor and the media. According to KMC's spokesperson, it is not allowed to construct walls inside the parks because it is for the public.

Encroachments have been removed from Shaheed Benazir Park, we won't allow anyone to encroach Govt property. pic.twitter.com/orTIHosFMO

— Wasim Akhtar (@wasimakhtar1955) May 3, 2017

The management of the sailing club, according to the KMC's official, was also encroaching upon further land of the park by increasing their constructions.

"I was receiving many complaints regarding the park, which is why I arranged this visit," Akhtar said, adding that the park is being encroached upon with proper planning. "Last year, the Sindh government took control of the park, which was itself an illegal act," he claimed.



The mayor said he is not aware who exactly is encroaching upon the park but its condition under the Sindh government's control is in front of all. With the powers and funds that the KMC has, they can only perform the function of security guards, he said. "We don't even have the funds to construct a road," he said.

FIR registered

Later on Wednesday in the evening, Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro took notice of the demolished walls inside the park and filed an FIR against the KMC Parks Director-General Afaq Mirza and Liaquat Qaimkhani.

According to Shoro, the park is under the ownership of the Sindh government and they are already busy in its beautification. Action will be taken against those officers found involved in damaging the government's property, he said.