The grave gravel dispute rages on

Locals claim large scale gravel pits are destroying their waterbeds, resistance can turn bloody

KARACHI:

Despite the ban on gravel mining, some influential outfits from Balochistan, while allegedly encroaching land in Karachi’s Gadap area, have started taking the law in their own hands. Per allegations, the group’s digging of gravel pits has triggered a law and order crisis in the region, leading to frequent clashes with the locals.

Sources claim that the increasing hostility between people of the land and a private militia belonging to a Baloch tribal chief has been a cause of displacement for many Gadap residents. However, the wide-scale extraction of gravel from the Deh Kand Jhang in Gadap area of Malir district has also become a grave ecological concern, which is believed to affecting the local waterbeds.

“More than 100 dumper trucks escorted by private guards are being loaded daily from my 25-acre land that is situated at the mouth of Kand Jhang river. On our resistance, the guards shot and injured me. I luckily survived despite a bullet in my head,” said Arshad Bikak, a local landlord.

The incident took place in April 2019. Soon after the clash, Gadap police on the complaint of Arsahd Bikak registered a case against Farhan Bhootani, son of Saleh Mohammad Bhootani, former local government minister of Balochistan, elected from Lasbela area that connects with Gadap.

“Despite registration of FIR, they frequently dig up the gravel without any fear and sell it in Karachi’s open market,” Bikak claimed, adding that the case pertaining to the assault is still under process by Malir court, where the judge has declared Farhan Bhootani as an absconder.

Bikak however, is not the only victim of the tragedy, but others in the area also face a similar fate. “If you visit the area, you will find huge number of excavators, dumpers working on different river beds taking out gravel 24 hours a day. This has been going on for many years,” said Nihal Ahmed, a resident of Gadap’s Nabi Bux Goth.

“We have lodged protests with district administration and our elected representatives too, but all has gone in vain,” he said adding that the extractions have destroyed the natural landscape, reduced grazing land and lowered water level. “Believe me, water has become a rare commodity and our animals are dying because most of the grazing land has diminished,” he lamented.

According to locals, the areas near Khaar, Moadan Goth have now become totally barren owing to exploitations by gravel diggers.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, SHO Gadap Nootak Baloch said that he had taken action twice and arrested a few people with loaded dumpers. “I have registered two FIRs since I took charge a while ago. During the investigation, the divers and other workers have confessed that they work for Bhootani family. I did not succumb to any pressure and sent them to jail, but they all secured bail,” he said.

When asked about the ongoing clash between Bikak and Bhootani family in Kand Jhang area wherefrom hundreds of dumpers are loaded with gravel, he said, “we are a little confused whether this area falls in Sindh or Balochistan. There is some demarcation issue. We have written letter to revenue officials to determine the area,” he said adding that they had once raided the place to stop gravel digging, but final action will be taken soon after area jurisdiction is determined.

Arshad Bikak however sharing the revenue record and tax receipts of the land said, “this land in Kand Jhang comes in Gadap teshil of Karachi where Bhootani family of Balochistan has established its own writ occupying local people’s land.”

Despite many attempts, the contact with MPA Saleh Bhootani who also happens to be chief of Bhootani tribe living in Balochistan and Sindh could not be established. His elder son Farhan Bhootani who looks after the community matters refuted all the allegations and said, “We have nothing to do with gravel digging business. A few people from our tribe might be involved in it but we live in Dureeje town of Lasbeela district where we own family land. How can we come across to Sindh area and occupy the land illegally,” he refuted, while also seeming unaware of the aforementioned FIR.

Talking about Bikak family’s dispute with them over gravel removing however, he said, “They are criminals. The land they claim comes in Balochistan area not in Sindh. We have lodged FIRs in Lasbella following which they launched an attack our people two years ago,” he asserted.

The Gadap area where gravel business illegally flourishes is located in provincial assembly seat PS87 Malir 1 wherefrom Sajjid Jokhio of ruling Pakistan People’s Party has won the election. Commenting on the issue, Jokhio said, “since section 144 is imposed on gravel lifting, the situation is under control. The police and I will have to see if there is a particular case,” he told The Express Tribune.

The Express Tribune tried to reach out to deputy commissioner Malir for his comments on the matter, but contact could not be established despite repeated calls.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2021.