KARACHI: The anti-encroachment operation to raze illegal structures constructed on the amenity parks’ land near Tariq Road carried out in the wee hours of Sunday.
According to details, the operation was held under the supervision of the director of anti-encroachment Karachi’s District East and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Ferozabad.
During the operation, as many as 10 shops constructed at the land of Dilkasha Park at Tariq Road were razed. Law enforcement personnel were deployed during the anti-encroachment operation due to security concerns.
On December 28, 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered to demolish a mosque, shrine and cemetery built on amenity parks’ land near Tariq Road in Karachi.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin, heard a case against the construction of Madinah Mosque and other encroachments on the land meant for a park in Tariq Road at the Supreme Court Karachi Registry. District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Administrator East maintained that the mosque was constructed on park land.
Chief Justice Gulzar expressed anger over the land still being occupied, reprimanding the district administrator over Karachi’s condition.
“What have you done with this city? The city has been built in a way that it now needs to be rebuilt from scratch, like Poland, Germany and France were,” the CJP berated the district administrator.
The Supreme Court had directed Karachi’s commissioner last year to bring down all constructions on the encroached lands around Kidney Hill Park and submit a report to the court.
A day after SC orders, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUIF) announced that his party would protect the mosque under all circumstances. JUIF Sindh leader Qari Muhammad Usman, while talking to worshipers during his visit to the Madina Masjid, said that the apex court should review its decision about the demolition of the mosque.
“We will give our lives but not allow the mosque to be martyred or even a single brick will be demolished,” said Usman, adding, “If Bani Gala and Hayat Residency can be regularised, why not mosques?”
Usman said the mosque was built 41 years ago and associated with the Jamia Uloom Al Islamia Binori Town seminary. “A mosque cannot be moved to another location under the Islamic teachings,” he added.
