Victims protest against 'land mafia' in Gulistan-e-Jauhar

KARACHI: Dozens of affectees protested on Thursday against the occupation and encroachments of their plots in Gulistan-e-Jauhar area of Karachi, ARY News reported.

The residents gathered outside the Karachi Press Club to protest against the occupation of the plots in Block 10 and 11 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar. They stated that the ‘land mafia’ had occupied their plots similar to President Arif Alvi who also claimed that his plot had been encroached and sold off.

A protester urged the government and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take action and help in the recovery of their plots. “I urge the government and the chief justice to implement the court’s verdict and help us recover our plot,” he told ARY News.

Another protester said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had stated in his address to the nation that he would help widows get their due rights and end the forceful occupation of their plots and properties.

“My mother is a widow and frail. She used her entire life savings on a plot which is now occupied,” he said, urging the government to help recover the plot.

The protesters said that the there are clear instructions by the court against the encroachments which are not being implemented. They urged the government and the courts to help recover their plot and properties.

President Alvi not sparred by land mafia

The land mafia has not even spared President Arif Alvi who also claimed that his plot within the same area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar had been occupied and sold.

Arif Alvi had bought the 400 sq. yards plot in Block 10, Gulistan-e-Johar, for Rs50,000 in 1978, over forty years ago but did not posses it despite the passage of so many year.

He submitted an application with the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) in February 2017 seeking recovery of his plot alleging that it was sold through ‘china-cutting.’

A large number of people have also affected by this scam, and a huge pile of such complaints has been accumulated with Director General KDA Sami Siddiqui who is turning a blind eye to the issue.

China cutting is basically an illegal way of carving out big amenity plots, community centres, government plots, parks or even cemeteries into smaller plots up to 100 yards or below each and sale them.