The Afghan camp was established in 1984 on more than 200 acres of government-owned land and contained about 3,000 housing units.
MDA officials began demolishing houses after the repatriation of thousands of Afghan nationals from the Afghan camp in Karachi on October 15. Photo: INP
As tensions between neighboring countries rise, land grabbers quickly occupied the homes and shops of Afghan citizens who had been repatriated from Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Maymar Afghan refugee camp.
The families left in an emergency, triggering a large-scale operation against the invasion. The repatriation of Afghan refugees from the camp sparked a clash when squatters, accompanied by women and children, began occupying vacant houses.
The operation, launched by various civic and police agencies, turned violent when the squatters resisted and attacked the police with stones. In response, authorities used baton charges and detained several suspects.
During the day-long operation, dozens of unoccupied houses were demolished. The operation was jointly carried out by the Malir Development Authority (MDA), Anti-encroachment Department, police, rangers, deputy commissioner (west) and revenue officials.
The land mafia takes over empty homes
Witnesses reported that as Afghan families prepared to return to their homeland, organized land mafia groups and criminals began to claim vacant houses.
These groups spray-painted ownership marks on the walls and moved in with household items. In some areas, groups (including women and children) set up barriers to block police entry, and even set fires to deter demolition teams.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan families continued loading their belongings onto trucks bound for Afghanistan. Others were seen selling household items at very low prices, attracting large crowds of local shoppers. Workers were also seen removing steel rods and materials from demolished structures.
Joint operation to clear state lands
Authorities launched an operation early Wednesday, using heavy machinery to remove illegal construction from more than 200 acres of government-owned land. This land contains around 3,000 homes. Officials stated that the operation will continue until all unauthorized structures are demolished.
MDA State and Control Director Mohammad Farooq Bugti explained that the operation was part of a broader government policy linked to the repatriation of Afghans.
“The Afghan camp was established in 1984 after the war. Now, under federal policy, Afghan citizens are being repatriated. More than 50% of the 3,000 houses have already been vacated, and the rest will be vacated soon,” he said.
He stressed that the land belongs to the State and must be returned to government control. “There were some clashes between the police and land grabbers who tried to create law and order problems, but the joint forces acted quickly to restore control,” he added.
Law Enforcement Response
Western SSP Tariq Elahi Mastoi said the operation was in line with national policy. “For more than five decades, Pakistan has welcomed our Afghan brothers, sharing our homes, land and food,” he said. “Now, according to the new policy, they are being repatriated with dignity.”
Mastoi also mentioned that of the approximately 15,000 registered Afghan refugees who once lived in the camp, more than 8,000 have already returned to Afghanistan.
“Vacant houses are being demolished because they were illegally built on state land. No major protests have been reported as residents were informed about the policy,” he added.
Anti-Western Invasion SHO Shayan Anjum explained that once Afghan families started leaving, land mafia groups tried to take control. “They spray painted the walls and tried to claim ownership. We received complaints on Tuesday night and by 6am on Wednesday the operation was already underway,” he said.
He confirmed that more than 250 houses and permanent structures had been demolished so far. “There are around 1,300 Afghan residents pending verification or short-term extensions,” he added. The land, which is part of the MDA’s Taiser Town electoral sector, cannot be occupied privately.
“The situation was chaotic, with various groups dividing up plots. However, the operation has re-established control and more demolitions will follow,” Anjum concluded.
As the state pursues its repatriation policy and reclaims public lands, the decades-old Afghan refugee settlement in Karachi is rapidly emptying. Although about 1,300 Afghans remain in the area, officials expect the camp to be completely cleared soon. This will mark the end of one of the city’s largest and oldest refugee communities.
