Anti-encroachment drive around Karachi Zoo enters into second day

F.P. Report

KARACHI: The anti-encroachment drive around the Karachi zoo area has entered into its second day on Sunday (today).

According to details, 400 illegal shops and offices are being demolished during the operation in Karachi zoo’s locality. Meanwhile, another team of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is razing encroachments in the Clifton area.

On the other hand, shopkeepers continued to protest against the operation.

A day earlier, during an anti-encroachment operation in Karachi’s Garden area, a roof of a shop caved in and several people got trapped under the wreckage.

The eye-witnesses said the shop’s roof collapsed, when the people were taking out their valuables from the shop.

As per shopkeepers, the KMC had earlier served them notices to vacate the shops within one month but now they have abruptly slashed the deadline for removal of their shops.

Following the directives of the Supreme Court, the anti-encroachment drive in the port city has been effectively going for months now, however, it has drawn mixed reactions from politicians and civil rights activists alike.

Last month, Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar claimed that his former colleagues were threatening him of attempt on his and his children’s life over initiating the anti-encroachment operation in Karachi.

He resolved to continue the anti-encroachment operation without any discrimination despite life threats.

Cautioning all owners behind encroachments to make their arrangements, he had said, the Supreme Court has given clear directives and no one will be allowed to unlawfully grab the land again.

The orders of the Supreme Court is in the light of Article 189, and its execution is mandatory for all institutions, the Mayor Karachi added.