Rangers asked to help remove encroachments

Armed resistance by land grabbers at Sohrab Goth cited as reason behind police failure

KARACHI: “Even the SHO cannot go to the vicinity of Sohrab Goth out of fear of the encroachers,” remarked Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi.

He was hearing a case regarding encroachment on state land at the Karachi registry of the Supreme Court. His remarks were not out of context. Before being elevated to the apex court, Justice Rizvi was heading a bench at the Sindh Court. Hearing a case of encroachment on the land of the Pakistan Post Office Employees Cooperative Housing Society, he ordered the police to get the society’s land vacated. But on the next hearing, the police sought help from Pakistan Rangers citing armed resistance by encroachers.

The society’s case is unique in a way that all the land was purchased from private landowners. Half of the society’s members are running from pillar to post to get their plots back from encroachers and builders.

In early 2021, the society moved the Sindh High Court for the removal of encroachments from over 60 acres of land. Post Office Society has a total of six sectors.

In 2012, armed land grabbers encroached on 65 acres and established Block G by occupying roads, footpaths and parks too. In 2016 the society moved the court and the police admitted encroachment on society’s land. The Sindh High Court twice passed orders for the removal of the encroachment. However, there was no compliance and the authorities conveniently ignored the court’s orders.

Sohail Iqbal the honorary secretary of the society, admits that the previous managing committee stopped pursuing the case which further encouraged encroachers.

The new managing committee filed a fresh petition by incorporating all court orders and applications sent to authorities for removing the encroachment. The court in its orders gave specific directions for the removal of encroachment. Justice Rizvi directed to hold fortnightly meetings and evolve a strategy to get the land vacated and seek assistance from Pakistan Rangers. However, Sohail points out, that what the counsel for rangers submitted on December 15 was enough to prove how powerful and well-connected are the encroachers.

“Counsel for Rangers states that Rangers did provide assistance but additional force will be needed,”  Sohail quotes the court order adding that this shows how precious the land is to the encroachers who resist even the para-military force.

Now the court has instructed the DC East, SSP and Rangers that the orders must be executed in letter and spirit by removing all kinds of encroachments by February 15, 2023.