In line with the government’s decision, the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland is underway.
KARACHI:
The house demolition operation in the Afghan settlement of Gulshan-e-Mimar continued for the fifth day. So far, more than 1,200 houses have been demolished.
In this regard, Director Anti-Invasion Ameer Fazal Avesi and Zone 1 SHO Shayan Anjum stated that the Gulshan-e-Maymar Afghan Refugee Camp covers an area of 215 acres and comprises more than 3,200 residential and commercial units. In accordance with the government’s decision, the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland is underway.
Avesi said that the houses and buildings built on this land are being demolished to prevent illegal occupation of the land by the mafia and that the State is reclaiming the land.
On Sunday, the fifth day of the Afghan camp demolition campaign, the Zone One Anti-Intrusion Force, the Malir Development Authority (MDA) and the District Police participated. According to Avesi, this land, valued at billions of rupees, belongs to the Malir Development Authority. DSP Manghopir Masroor Ahmed Jatoi said that more than 15,000 Afghan refugees have settled in the Afghan tent city, of which more than 90 percent, approximately 14,000 Afghan refugees, have already returned to their homeland, Afghanistan. The remaining 800 to 1,000 Afghans will also gradually leave their homes and return to their country. He added that the police are taking action against Afghans residing illegally in various areas, according to government policy. This operation will continue until the ground is completely clear.
Need to regularize illegal settlements
Hailing the demolition of the illegal Afghan Basti on the M-9 highway, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) president Altaf Shakoor on Sunday demanded that all other illegal settlements in the megacity be regularized or demolished according to law.
He said the Afghan Basti had been a den of crime and drug sales. Its demolition is a welcome measure. He suggested that the land of the old Afghan Basti should be used to develop a modern park as the megacity faces a huge lack of parks, gardens and green spaces.
