Dare to evict?: Centre seeks Sindh govt’s help to evict LEAs from Haji Camp
The place meant to temporarily house pilgrims has been occupied for the last 25 years
An elderly man exits Haji Camp in Sultanabad, near the US consulate, where a 33-inch diameter pipeline burst, flooding the road. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The federal government has once again approached the Sindh government for help to evacuate its prime land and buildings located in Old Haji camp that is currently under the occupation of a law enforcement agency.
In a letter addressed to the home secretary, a senior official of the federal religious affairs minister said: "The law enforcement agency has occupied our buildings, especially the hostels for the last 25 years. These hostels were built for the temporary accommodation of pilgrims (Hajis) during the season of Hajj." The letter added that pilgrims travelling from various parts of the country faced acute problem due to the lack of hostel facilities. "As Hajj season is about to start, we request you to please make arrangements to evacuate it. If not, please make arrangement to recover rent from the occupants for the corresponding period which stands at Rs90 million," the letter said.
Read: Parking lot: Comsats evicted from rented property
Sources in home department said that they have conveyed the letter from the federal religious affairs ministry to the law enforcers, but no response has yet been received from their side. "It was a large plot with historical buildings, which has not only been encroached by law enforcers, but has also been occupied by civilians who have set up shops and markets," said a senior official of the home department. "A grand operation is needed to evacuate this property. But who will take action against the law enforcement agency?" he wondered." The official added that they had compiled a list of all the historic buildings, including the hostels, which are under occupation.
The list has been presented to higher authorities on a number of occasions, but no tangible results have come out so far.
When contacted, home secretary Mukhtiar Soomro tried to avoid speaking on the issue. "A number of letters are issued to us. I don't know whether any such letter has been issued in the recent past," he said.
On the other hand, an additional secretary in the home department said that given the criticism against law enforcement agencies over the illegal occupation of buildings, the government is thinking to allot some land to them, where they may build their headquarters, offices and initiate a residential scheme. "The law enforcement agency has written to us a number of times and this matter is under consideration with the chief minister. I hope the land will be allotted to them soon," said the source.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2015.
The federal government has once again approached the Sindh government for help to evacuate its prime land and buildings located in Old Haji camp that is currently under the occupation of a law enforcement agency.
In a letter addressed to the home secretary, a senior official of the federal religious affairs minister said: "The law enforcement agency has occupied our buildings, especially the hostels for the last 25 years. These hostels were built for the temporary accommodation of pilgrims (Hajis) during the season of Hajj." The letter added that pilgrims travelling from various parts of the country faced acute problem due to the lack of hostel facilities. "As Hajj season is about to start, we request you to please make arrangements to evacuate it. If not, please make arrangement to recover rent from the occupants for the corresponding period which stands at Rs90 million," the letter said.
Read: Parking lot: Comsats evicted from rented property
Sources in home department said that they have conveyed the letter from the federal religious affairs ministry to the law enforcers, but no response has yet been received from their side. "It was a large plot with historical buildings, which has not only been encroached by law enforcers, but has also been occupied by civilians who have set up shops and markets," said a senior official of the home department. "A grand operation is needed to evacuate this property. But who will take action against the law enforcement agency?" he wondered." The official added that they had compiled a list of all the historic buildings, including the hostels, which are under occupation.
The list has been presented to higher authorities on a number of occasions, but no tangible results have come out so far.
When contacted, home secretary Mukhtiar Soomro tried to avoid speaking on the issue. "A number of letters are issued to us. I don't know whether any such letter has been issued in the recent past," he said.
On the other hand, an additional secretary in the home department said that given the criticism against law enforcement agencies over the illegal occupation of buildings, the government is thinking to allot some land to them, where they may build their headquarters, offices and initiate a residential scheme. "The law enforcement agency has written to us a number of times and this matter is under consideration with the chief minister. I hope the land will be allotted to them soon," said the source.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2015.