KARACHI:
The controversy surrounding alleged construction on excavated land in Hill Park has taken a dramatic turn, with Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab revealing that the disputed land at the center of the case does not appear in the original PECHS layout plan, while Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) officials claim that a forged No Objection Certificate (NOC) was used in an attempt to legitimize the development.
The latest findings emerged during an ongoing investigation by the KMC into construction activities on land adjacent to Hill Park, one of Karachi’s most prominent public recreational spaces. Authorities say the investigation has raised serious questions about the authenticity of ownership documents, the legal status of the disputed land and possible attempts to mislead government authorities.
According to Mayor Wahab, people involved in the construction submitted lease and ownership documents purportedly issued by the Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS). However, a review of official records revealed that the plot in PECHS Block 6, the one cited in the documents, does not exist in the original layout plan approved by the society. “Land records currently under review have failed to establish the existence of the disputed parcel in the original layout,” the mayor said, adding that KMC has never allocated any portion of Hill Park land to any individual or organization. He noted that according to a 1974 government notification, Hill Park covers approximately 56 acres and remains public land under the jurisdiction of KMC. If investigations establish that the PECHS layout has been illegally altered or that encroachments have occurred on Hill Park land, legal action will be taken against those responsible.
The mayor said surveys and investigations are continuing to establish the full facts of the case, including examining documents that investigators suspect may have been fabricated.
As part of the investigation, Wahab published copies of documents distributed by parties claiming ownership rights to the disputed lands. The document bears signatures attributed to retired Lt Col Naseemuddin through his lawyer, retired Major AM Waqar.
The agreement states that a 500 square meter residential plot was allotted by decision of the society’s management committee, with an initial premium of only seven rupees per square metre. However, KMC officials argue that if the plot itself cannot be located on the original layout plan, the legal validity of all subsequent ownership and transfer documents becomes questionable.
The investigation has also uncovered what KMC officials describe as an attempt to pressure Hill Park authorities through the use of a forged NOC.
According to official records obtained, a fake NOC dated April 21 was allegedly circulated in an effort to justify construction activities near the park. Following the complaints, the KMC Lands Department wrote to the Director General of Parks on April 28, formally informing him that the document was fraudulent.
Officials said that after the forged NOC was identified, people associated with the disputed land approached the KMC Land Department seeking official approval. In response, the department issued a conditional NOC on April 30. The document explicitly prohibited any construction on government-owned land or within the park boundaries.
The investigation further revealed that on May 18, the KMC Land Department wrote to the PECHS Secretary, seeking details regarding the ownership of the land. The letter identified Sohail Iqbal Siddiqui as the alleged owner of the plot and Syed Wajahat Hussain as the power holder.
KMC has now formally approached SSP East, requesting legal action against people allegedly involved in misleading public institutions.
