Traders to protest against hike in rents by Auqaf Dept

Criticise dept for lack of transparency in income of mosques and shrines

KARACHI:

Small traders will stage a demonstration on January 17 to protest against the Auqaf Department outside its office near Jamia Masjid in the Aram Bagh area.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir who is also the convener of the Tenants Action Committee Auqaf, made the announcement on Friday.

The Auqaf Department was responsible for the upkeep of Shrines and selected mosques owned by the government. To manage the expenses of the religious sites, the Auqaf Department rented out shops around mosques and shrines.

However, the government's rents remained unchanged for decades, while the market-based rents soared to millions of rupees. The recent move by the department to hike rents resulted in strong backlash from the tenants.

While strongly opposing the recent actions of the Auqaf Department, Mir said that a written agreement signed in 2009 allowed the department to increase rents on its properties by no more than 10% annually. However, the department has now canceled tenancy agreements and announced that new rents will be determined through open auctions.

"This move is unjust and devastating for traders," said Mir. "Most of these shops have been operating for over 50 years, with tenants adhering to tenancy laws. Terminating their agreements and imposing arbitrary rents is unfair, especially during a time of soaring inflation and struggling business conditions."

The decision will affect over 2,000 shops located near mosques and shrines, leaving traders at risk of losing their livelihoods. Mir stressed that the proposed auction-based rents would be unaffordable for most small businesses, forcing them into financial ruination.

Traders across Sindh have pledged to stand in solidarity with the affected shopkeepers. A large-scale protest movement is planned, demanding the repeal of these measures. Mir warned the Auqaf Department of escalating protests if the "oppressive and arbitrary" practices are not halted. Protesters have threatened to surround the department's offices and shut them down if their demands are ignored.

Mir also criticised the Auqaf Department for a lack of transparency regarding the income and expenditure of mosques and shrines. He demanded a thorough investigation into the department's finances and accused its officials of corruption and bribery.