Almost 100 houses demolished in Karachi anti-encroachment drive

KCR track in Central district would be cleared in three to four days, says PR land deputy director

KARACHI: Almost 100 concrete structures and residential units located within 50 feet of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) track, from Gujjar Nullah to Nazimabad, were razed in the on-going anti-encroachment drive on Wednesday with the help of heavy machinery. The operation faced delay due to resistance from the residents.

Railways authorities, district administration and police participated in the operation which continued for the 12th day. Lady police officials were also deployed for security reasons.

Pakistan Railways (PR) Property Land Deputy Director Dilawar Hussain said that the operation was launched on the orders by the Supreme Court. He said that around 150 concrete residential units were erected in the surroundings of Nazimabad Railway track which will be razed. He said that 75% of the operation has been completed in district Central and efforts are under way to remove as many encroachments as possible. "We're trying our best to revive the railway tracks soon," he added. The KCR track in the Central district would be cleared in three to four days, he assured.

 North Nazimabad sub-division Assistant Commissioner Zainul Abiddin Channa said that the residents were issued notices to vacate the place and find an alternative place to live.

The residents are worried about finding an alternative place to live. During the operation, some of the affectees kept moving their things elsewhere to vacate the place while others started to demolish the illegal constructions. But some of the residents maintained obstinacy and tried to stop the operation.

While addressing the federal government, the affected residents said that only a few days were left before Eid. They said that they could have arranged alternative places if the operation was launched after Eid. They asked how the children would spend their Eid days without a home.

The residents said that they have been living in the area for years and the authorities cannot expel them from their homes like this. The federal government has done nothing but ruined their lives and the country would not progress even after the revival of KCR, they warned.

The operation began at 9:30am from Gujjar Nala and continued till 5pm. It will continue today (Thursday).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2019.