Land Dept official dies after being attacked during anti-encroachment drive in Karachi
Deputy Secretary Land Department Mohammad Ishaq was attacked during an anti-encroachment drive in New Karachi.
Deputy Secretary Land Department Mohammad Ishaq was attacked during an anti-encroachment drive in New Karachi. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
A deputy director for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was shot dead by unidentified men during an anti-encroachment drive in the New Karachi area on Friday evening.
Muhammad Ishaq, 55, was with a team of workers clearing encroachments near Shafiq Mor when he was attacked.
“As we moved towards the next site after demolishing the first one, he was shot,” says one of the team members while talking to The Express Tribune.
“A single bullet penetrated his body from the back and crossed through.”
Muhammad Ishaq was taken to Abbasi Shaheed hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds during treatment.
The team members claimed they were not given police protection. On the other hand, police officials claimed the allegations were baseless.
“We were not informed by the anti-encroachers,” SHO Sajid Javed told The Express Tribune. “Even they did not arrive there to clear the encroachment with their own force.”
The attack occurred during the 15th day of Karachi Metropolitan Commission's anti-encroachment drive. The drive has been facing resistance from the land mafia.
Earlier this week, the anti-encroachment drive turned violent in Karachi's Saddar area after a few armed groups clashed with government officials. At the same time, residents of various areas have complained that the KMC endeavor and its tall claims of “successfully removing encroachments” as hogwash.
“It is just a cosmetic operation as corrupt officials also receive million of rupees in bribes from the owners of makeshift stalls,” claimed Sallahuddin, a resident of Samanabad.
A deputy director for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was shot dead by unidentified men during an anti-encroachment drive in the New Karachi area on Friday evening.
Muhammad Ishaq, 55, was with a team of workers clearing encroachments near Shafiq Mor when he was attacked.
“As we moved towards the next site after demolishing the first one, he was shot,” says one of the team members while talking to The Express Tribune.
“A single bullet penetrated his body from the back and crossed through.”
Muhammad Ishaq was taken to Abbasi Shaheed hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds during treatment.
The team members claimed they were not given police protection. On the other hand, police officials claimed the allegations were baseless.
“We were not informed by the anti-encroachers,” SHO Sajid Javed told The Express Tribune. “Even they did not arrive there to clear the encroachment with their own force.”
The attack occurred during the 15th day of Karachi Metropolitan Commission's anti-encroachment drive. The drive has been facing resistance from the land mafia.
Earlier this week, the anti-encroachment drive turned violent in Karachi's Saddar area after a few armed groups clashed with government officials. At the same time, residents of various areas have complained that the KMC endeavor and its tall claims of “successfully removing encroachments” as hogwash.
“It is just a cosmetic operation as corrupt officials also receive million of rupees in bribes from the owners of makeshift stalls,” claimed Sallahuddin, a resident of Samanabad.