Land mafia demolishes 86-year-old school in Karachi

KARACHI: While actions are being taken in the city to clear lands of encroachment, no one saved the over eight-decade-old school in Garden East from being bulldozed Saturday night.

An officer of the education department, Muhammad Azam, told Geo News he reached the site all the way from Korangi to report the case, but no one in the Jamshed Town police station took action against the demolishment.

However, the station house officer of the police station considered could not be reached for comments.

Locals said people belonging to the land mafia came to the area late at night and bulldozed the school building.

The Jufelhurst School was established in 1931 by Sybil D’Abero who had also built her 500-yard residence within the school boundary. According to reports, the building was also declared a heritage site by the Sindh Culture Department.

An official of Jamat-e-Islami and ex-MNA, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, who was present near the demolished structure Sunday morning, said the school was one of the old buildings of the city and should have been protected.

Even the Ministry of Culture had listed the school as a heritage building.

Before it was demolished, over 1,000 children were getting an education here. These children belonged to different age groups as classes were held between primary and secondary levels.

Classes for girls would be held in the morning, while boys would attend school in the afternoon shift. Besides, primary-level classes would also be held at the school.

Initially, it was a private school, but later it was handed over to the government.

Head master of the school, Muhammad Shafeeq and contenders of the building, Adnan, Abid and Zeeshan, have also submitted applications against unidentified persons. The share holders have also submitted their property papers along with the application, said the police, adding that property papers will be checked against the records of revenue department.

SSP East and inquiry team visit school

According to SSP East Faisal Abdullah, an attempt to demolish a building, situated next to a school, was made in Soldier Bazaar.

He said that the building being demolished at night raised suspicions. SSP Abdullah said that the building and school lie within the same boundary walls.

The house was lying vacant after the death of the owner, a lady, who lent her land to the school, he said.

“We are trying to contact DG Cultural to know if the building was a cultural heritage site or not,” he further said.

He said that investigation is underway regarding the building.