Law varsity encroaches upon public land as the law cracks down on Karachi encroachments

KARACHI: As the Sindh government carries out an anti-encroachment drive in Karachi, a public sector university located merely a kilometre from the Chief Minister's House also faces allegations of encroaching upon public land.

To construct the campus of the recently built Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL), a nearby building of a government girls' primary school was first taken under control and then a car park for the varsity was built on top of a rainwater and sewerage drain.

The construction of the car park resulted in the sewerage drain being ultimately transformed into an open air garbage dump. Last month, local residents protested against the unsanitary conditions by erecting posters of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar at the same garbage dump.

The pavement at the side of the road on Main Chaudhary Khaliquzzaman Road was also encroached, making it dangerous for citizens by forcing them to walk on the road.

Now, further construction is being carried out on the government girls' primary school, depriving the children of even the small playground that they had.

Severe traffic congestion has been witnessed on Khaleeq-uz-Zaman Road ever since the law university campus was built here, while the encroachment has made it easier for land-grabbers to do their work. Ever since, several food vendors selling biryani, fish, barbecue, bub kebabs, and 'limca' drinks have also taken over nearby sidewalks and expensive public land.

From Schon Circle to Boat Basin and others, a similar situation prevails in several areas of Clifton.

'Former CM, governor permitted construction'

The vice chancellor of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law has rejected allegation of unlawful encroachment and construction on public land, including the footpath and sewerage drain.

According to the vice chancellor, the construction was carried out after taking permission from the former provincial chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, and former Sindh governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad.

He said that all signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were available with the university while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) have also conducted their inquiries into the matter.

According to the vice-chancellor, no construction was carried out illegally or without permission from concerned authorities.

He said that any citizens could approach the court of law if they had any complaints regarding the matter.

Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar, recently tasked Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar of clearing encroachments from footpaths, streets, public parks and playgrounds in the city, ensuring the mayor of the court's complete support in the matter.