Protest held in Karachi against demolitions

The affected residents of Karachi’s Mujahid and Wahid colonies, along with the Karachi Bachao Tehreek (KBT), protested on Sunday, demanding immediate reconstruction of their homes and just compensation until they are resettled. 

The demolitions that occurred last year in the two colonies, without following due process, have left the affected residents in dire straits. 

Addressing the protestors, Nasir Hussain, the head of KBT Mujahid Colony division, criticised the state authorities for subjecting residents, including women and children, to violent destruction. 

“They came for our homes in the dead of the night. Families who were asleep at home were locked from the outside, so were the men who were at the mosque to offer prayers.”  

He said that residents who were at the sit-in camp were brutally beaten up. “Even women were dragged through the streets, thrown into police vehicles and taken to the lock up,” Hussain said as he narrated the events of the night. 

"We demand the immediate reconstruction of our homes and fair compensation for the affected families until they are resettled," Hussain declared. 

Gulfaraz Khan of Wahid Colony highlighted the anti-working class policies of the state. “Karachi’s citizens were bearing the brunt of policies that prioritise infrastructural development over the welfare of the people. We condemn the government's anti-working class stance, which is evident in its callous disregard for the rights and well-being of the residents of Wahid and Mujahid colonies,” he added. 

Salma Bibi, a Mujahid Colony demolition affectee, said that as “a woman who bore witness to the ruthless demolition of our neighbourhood, I cannot emphasise enough the toll it takes on the women and children of the community”. 

Rozi Ghani, an affectee of Mujahid Colony said that the government's backing of the real estate mafia at the expense of its lower income populace is unacceptable.  

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“We call for an end to such alliances that disproportionately affect the vulnerable and perpetuate injustice. This is not fair that the residents of colonies like Mujahid and Wahid are displaced so that few can mint profit out of their misery.” 

Another affected from Mujahid Colony, Zubair Ahmed said that “the different standards of justice for people of lower economic status are a stain on our society. We demand equal justice for all citizens, regardless of their economic background. We vehemently condemn the discrimination against the residents of Mujahid and Wahid Colony and will substantiate in a court of law that the Government lacked any legal justification for demolishing the homes in Mujahid and Wahid Colony.” 

In a closing statement, Khurram Ali, Convener of Karachi Bachao Tehreek, declared, “The collective resolve of the community of Mujahid and Wahid Colony, joined by the unwavering commitment of Karachi Bachao Tehreek, will persist in the pursuit of justice. Whether in the hallowed halls of justice, the bustling streets in protest or the vast landscapes of social media, we shall expose the anti-working class policies of the state. Our battle will not waver until every affected individual reclaims their rights.”