Tearing them down: Demolition of marriage lawns continues

KARACHI:

The anti-encroachment cell of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) continued to demolish marriage halls and lawns in Districts Central and East on Friday on the directives of Sindh local government minister Sharjeel Memon.

A KMC team, under the supervision of KMC metropolitan commissioner Masood Alam, demolished Civic Lawn and Faran Club in District Central, while Jhonagarh Lawn was sealed. Similarly, Florence Lawn was demolished in North Nazimabad. Memon said that action was being taken against the land mafia and encroachers regardless of their political affiliations. “We will revive the past glory of the parks and amenity plots where political parties have established their offices, halls and other buildings without succumbing to pressure.”

On the demolition of Florence Lawn, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Rehan Hashmi, the area’s lawmaker, said the party supported such demolitions but the authorities should serve a notice prior to taking action. Some sources claimed the lawn was owned by MQM leader Babar Ghauri.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2015.