Karachi: Land mafia devouring Gutter Baghicha in connivance with officials

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Shahid Husain
Gutter Baghicha, situated at Manghopir Road, was originally spread over 1,016 acres, but is being encroached upon by the citizens, government officials and the land mafia since long.

According to Nisar Baloch, an activist in the area, it was first encroached upon by immigrants arriving in Pakistan after the Partition of subcontinent in 1947. As a result, several colonies, including Asif Colony, Hasrat Mohani Colony, Zuberi Colony, and Wilayatabad were established on parcels of land from the Baghicha(garden).The government constructed a boundary wall around these new colonies that were spread over 480 acres, according to Baloch.

Had it been confined to the needs of impoverished refugees, perhaps nobody would have made an objection over the encroachment. However, government officials were also eyeing the prime land, Baloch said.

The minutes of a meeting held on March 7, 1993 at the secretariat of the Minister for Local Government, Government of Sindh, stated: “On the request of KMC (defunct Karachi Municipal Corporation) Officers Cooperative Housing Society, the Honourable Minister Local Government had passed an order that 200 acres of KMC land at Sewage Farm, Manghopir Road may be granted to them for housing purposes at the rate of Rs10 per sq. yard (occupancy value) and at the rate of Rs15 per sq. yard (developmental charges). The matter was discussed and all the concerned participants agreed to the above proposal. It was unanimously decided that Senior Director Land and Estate/Director Council KMC may put up CR accordingly.”

The minutes were signed by the then Sindh Minister Local Government, Mohammad Irshad Ahmad.

On July 25, 1993, Muhammad Siddique Dar, Section Officer-IV, on behalf of Secretary to Government of Sindh, issued a letter that said: “In exercise of powers conferred by section 45(5) (i) of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979, Government of Sindh are pleased to accord approval to the KMC Council Resolution No 2, dated March 11, 1993, regarding allotment of 200 acres of waste KMC land in sewage farm Manghopir Road Karachi in favour of KMC Officers Cooperative Housing Society for allotment to its registered members, at the rate of Rs 10 per sq. yard occupancy value plus development charges at the rate of Rs 15 per sq. yard, for residential purposes, on 99 years lease basis, on the terms and conditions specified in the above resolution.”

However, things were destined not to pass so smoothly. The minutes of a meeting of “Anti-Corruption Committee-1” of Enquiries & Anti-Corruption Establishment, Services General Administration And Coordination Department, Government of Sindh, dated Sept 12, 2001, held at Sindh Secretariat Building No-1, Karachi discussed “illegal allotment of Land Survey No. 108/10.K 28 Trans Lyari Sewerage Farm Municipal Garden, Gutter Baghicha Manghopir Road, Karachi” for 200 acres at the rate of Rs10 per sq. yard for KMC Officers Cooperative Housing Society.

ACC-1 decided to register a case against Allauddin Sabir, Municipal Commissioner at the time and Syed Tanveer Abbas Naqvi, the then Senior Director, Land and Estate, KMC Karachi. The ACC-1 also decided to hold an open enquiry against Shafi Ahmed Ansari, the then Deputy Director (Land) KMC, Karachi.

However, strangely enough, no action was taken against Municipal Commissioner Allauddin Sabir and other accused despite a lapse of two years. A letter written by Brig (retired) Mukhtar Ahmed on November 15, 2003, the then Chairman, Local Government said: “Despite a lapse of two years the decision/direction of ACC-1 has not been complied with. So many reminders have been issued but the response is not forthcoming.”

On February 12, 2004, Special Secretary, Local Government, Muhammad Ayub Shaikh wrote a letter to the then Nazim, City District Government Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, stating although it was decided on Sept 12, 2001, to cancel the allotment of 200 acres of land out of Survey No. 108/10-K-28, Trans Lyari, Gutter Baghicha but the decision of ACC-I has neither been complied nor has any progress been intimated “despite a lapse of two years.”

Today fresh attempts are being made to encroach Gutter Bagicha, by the land mafia in connivance with officials.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=197950