Dr Farooq Sattar alleges illegal excavations in Hill Park, while KMC insists that no land has been allocated for the park.
A combination of archive photographs showing Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab (left) and senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar.
A new political confrontation over the future of Karachi’s public spaces erupted on Sunday when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) accused authorities of facilitating illegal land allocations and environmental destruction in Hill Park, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab strongly denied the allegations, insisting that no land belonging to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had been transferred to any party.
Addressing an emergency press conference at Hill Park along with senior MQM-P leaders Syed Aminul Haque, former Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi and other party functionaries, MQM-P leader and MNA Dr Farooq Sattar alleged that Karachi’s public lands were being systematically handed over to land grabbers under the patronage of the provincial government.
Dr Sattar claimed that a section of Hill Park had recently been disturbed through unauthorized excavation and layout, claiming the development did not exist in the PECHS master plan. He accused KMC and PECHS officials of issuing illegal no-objection certificates (NOCs) and demanded an investigation by accountability authorities as well as suo motu action by the Sindh High Court.
Read: Sindh accuses IRSA of violating water deal, urges federal intervention amid growing crisis
“If the hill is sold today, tomorrow the entire park could be sold,” he warned, calling for action against the officials allegedly involved in the matter.
The MQM-P leader also criticized what he described as the resurgence of encroachments on public lands across the city, including areas around Nehr-e-Khayyam, Beach View and Benazir Bhutto Park. He maintained that his party had previously fought legal battles to remove illegal structures from public spaces, including Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, Kidney Hill Park and Empress Market.
Former mayor Waseem Akhtar urged state institutions to intervene, alleging that Karachi’s public assets were once again threatened by powerful interests. He warned that continued inaction could result in the loss of valuable public lands.
During the press conference, Dr Sattar also praised former Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori for his educational and welfare initiatives, particularly free IT training programs for thousands of students. He further criticized the Sindh government’s handling of local government affairs and reiterated the MQM-P’s long-standing demand for implementation of Article 140-A of the Constitution to ensure greater autonomy to local bodies.
Responding to the allegations, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab categorically rejected claims that KMC had allotted any portion of the Hill Park land.
“Hill Park was, is and will remain the property of KMC,” Wahab said, adding that KMC had not and did not intend to allocate “even an inch” of land within the park.
Read also: MQM-P, PPP Trade Barbs
The mayor stated that he had personally ordered work to stop in the Hill Park area after reports of activity emerged during the Eid holidays. According to Wahab, KMC officials visited the site on the fourth day of Eid and stopped work immediately.
He clarified that while Hill Park is under the jurisdiction of KMC, ownership and regulatory matters relating to the surrounding lands and housing societies, including PECHS, are separate issues. Wahab also noted that PECHS is regulated by federal authorities.
Defending his administration’s record, Wahab said KMC focused on preserving Karachi’s heritage and public spaces. He cited ongoing plans to establish a historical museum in Beach View in collaboration with Citizens Archive Pakistan and the Sindh government, arguing that the project demonstrated the city’s commitment to conservation rather than commercialization.
The exchange marks the latest chapter in an intensifying political dispute over land management, urban development and the protection of Karachi’s shrinking public spaces, with both sides trading accusations over responsibility for the city’s planning and governance challenges.
Mayor claims Eid cleanup a success, JI regrets its lack
A massive post-Eidul Azha cleaning operation in the city has triggered a fresh political confrontation, with Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab claiming that waste collection and sanitation have achieved unprecedented results, while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) dismissed the exercise as inadequate and accused the city administration of failing to address the metropolis’ chronic civic problems.
Addressing a press conference on the Eid sanitation drive, the mayor said authorities remained on the ground throughout the operation, along with officials from the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), elected representatives and sanitation workers.
Praising the efforts of sanitation staff who worked in extreme temperatures, Wahab said the cleaning drive continued for five days, from the Eid celebrations of the Bohra community to the fourth day of Eid observed by the Ahl-e-Hadith community.
According to official figures, a total of 169,961 tonnes of waste and waste were transported to Jam Chakro, Gond Pass landfills and Sharafi Goth garbage transfer station. Of these, 81,525 tons corresponded to remains of slaughtered animals, while 88,436 tons consisted of garbage and animal excrement.
The mayor said that all vehicles that participated in the operation were monitored through a centralized tracking system. Authorities collected 9,293 tonnes of spoils on the first day of Eid, 27,750 tonnes on the second day, 35,508 tonnes on the third day and over 8,968 tonnes on the fourth day.
Read more: PTI and JI agree on the need to apply a confidence censure to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab
He said 99 collection points had been established in cities of Karachi, while 9,326 additional pieces of machinery and equipment, including 341 large dump trucks, were deployed for the operation. More than 23,400 healthcare workers participated in the campaign.
Wahab said citizens had access to a 24-hour helpline and a mobile application for complaints and service requests. Of the 1,330 complaints received during the operation, around 90 percent were addressed, he added.
The mayor rejected criticism from opposition parties, particularly JI and MQM-P, saying political rivals had continued to criticize the operation while remaining committed to their own activities during Eid.
“Instead of holding press conferences and indulging in criticism, all stakeholders should work together for the city,” he said, adding that partisan politics often hinder efforts to improve municipal services.
Referring to comments made by JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Eid day, Wahab questioned how conclusions could have been drawn about the failure of the operation before the clearing process had fully unfolded. Wahab stated that this year’s operation had surpassed that of previous years.
However, the elected presidents of the JI union committee strongly questioned the mayor’s assessment, accusing the city administration of trying to cover up poor performance through political rhetoric and advertising.
In a joint statement, the party said residents had continued to lodge complaints about uncollected debris, garbage and unhygienic conditions during the Eid holidays. He noted that images and reports showing piles of waste in different parts of the city remained visible on television channels and social media platforms until the fourth day of Eid.
“If the measures were truly exemplary, why did residents throughout the city continue to complain?” the statement asked.
JI argued that Karachi’s problems extend far beyond the Eid period, pointing to persistent problems such as garbage accumulation, deteriorating roads, sewage failures and water shortages.
According to the party, citizens are no longer interested in official demands or advertising campaigns, but rather expect tangible improvements in municipal services. He accused the Sindh government and local government institutions of failing to resolve basic urban problems, leading to growing public frustration.
The statement further criticized the mayor’s comments on social welfare activities, saying that public service initiatives undertaken through charities should not be ridiculed or politicized.
