Anti-encroachment drive reaches Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar, shops, kiosks demolished

KARACHI: Yet another episode of anti-encroachment operation was conducted here Friday night in the metropolis' Gulistan-e-Johar area, authorities confirmed.

In the first round, the Karachi Development Authority's (KDA) Anti-Encroachment Cell brought out its heavy machinery to lay waste to the small shops located near Safari Park on University Road.

"Illegal stalls" and vendors located on the green belt near the park were also done away with, as bulldozers, dumper trucks, and cranes were spotted in the area and officers from the area's police station arrived on the scene to monitor the operation.

Steadily, then, the heavy machinery moved through Gulistan-e-Johar and into the Rabia City neighbourhood where, according to officials present on site, said the illegal furniture market would be removed.

Operations were also carried out near Kala Pul (Black Bridge) and Nursery market.

The anti-encroachment drive continued from its fourth day when, on Thursday, it cleaned up the city's Saddar area and demolished stalls and kiosks in and around Tibet Centre, Akbar Road, and Zaibunnisa Street after the Supreme Court ordered Mayor of Karachi to deliver on his promise.

The apex court, on October 27, had ordered removal of illegal encroachments in the city within the next 15 days. However, as the operation entered the fourth day, shop owners were seen protesting outside Empress Market against the demolishing of their shops.

According to the shop owners, they have been paying the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other departments for the past 50 years and despite the payment, their shops were demolished.