Operation necessary to prevent powerful land mafia seizing control of valuable real estate
The repatriation of thousands of Afghan nationals from the Afghan Basti (Afghan Camp) in Karachi, authorities have now begun demolishing homes in the vacated area amid growing concerns over potential illegal occupation.
The Malir Development Authority (MDA) has taken control of the land and initiated demolition of the abandoned houses to prevent encroachment and reclaim the land for official use. The move comes after earlier warnings by DIG West Irfan Baloch, who had raised alarms about land grabbers eyeing the area.
In a letter to the city police chief, DIG Baloch had urged immediate intervention, suggesting the formation of a joint committee comprising the MDA, the deputy commissioner’s office, and police to survey the land and secure it.
At that time, it was reported that over 3,000 houses in the Afghan Camp, located within the jurisdiction of the Gulshan-e-Maymar police station, housed approximately 15,000 Afghan nationals. While most have now returned to Afghanistan, around 1,500 individuals reportedly remain in the area.
To prevent illegal occupation, the MDA has now moved in to demolish the structures and assert control over the land. The process is ongoing, with heavy machinery seen at the site, removing homes that were once part of the decades-old informal settlement.
Authorities maintain that the operation is necessary to prevent the powerful land mafia from seizing control of the valuable real estate. However, some residents and rights activists have raised concerns about the fate of the remaining families and the humanitarian implications of sudden demolitions.
