Afghan camp was established in 1984 on more than 200 acres of government-owned land, containing about 3,000 housing units
MDA officials began demolishing homes after the repatriation of thousands of Afghan nationals from the Afghan camp in Karachi on October 15. Photo: INP
As tensions between the neighboring countries escalate, land grabbers quickly moved in to occupy the homes and shops of Afghan nationals who had been repatriated from Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Maymar Afghan refugee camp.
The families left in an emergency, triggering a large-scale anti-encroachment operation. The repatriation of Afghan refugees from the camp led to a confrontation when squatters, accompanied by women and children, began moving into the vacated houses.
The operation launched by various civic and law enforcement agencies turned violent as illegal residents resisted and attacked police officers with stones. In response, authorities used charges and detained several suspects.
During the day-long operation, dozens of uninhabited houses were demolished. The operation was carried out jointly by Malir Development Authority (MDA), Anti-Encroachment Department, Police, Rangers, Deputy Commissioner (West) and Revenue officials.
The land mafia seizes vacant homes
Witnesses reported that as Afghan families prepared to return to their homeland, organized land mafia groups and miscreants began claiming the evacuees’ homes.
These groups spray-painted ownership marks on walls and moved in with household items. In some areas, groups – including women and children – set up barriers to block police entry, even setting fires to deter demolition teams.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan families continued to load their belongings onto trucks headed for Afghanistan. Others were seen selling household items at very low prices, attracting large crowds of local buyers. Workers were also seen extracting steel rods and materials from demolished structures.
Joint operation to clear state land
Authorities launched an operation early Wednesday morning, using heavy machinery to remove illegal structures from more than 200 hectares of state-owned land. This land contains about 3,000 residential units. Officials stated that the operation will continue until all unauthorized structures are razed.
MDA’s State and Enforcement Director Mohammad Farooq Bugti explained that the operation was part of a wider government policy linked to the Afghan repatriation.
“The Afghan camp was established in 1984 after the war. Now, under federal policy, Afghan nationals are being repatriated. Over 50% of the 3,000 houses have already been vacated and the remaining will be cleared soon,” he said.
He stressed that the land belongs to the state and must be returned to government control. “There were some clashes between 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
West SSP Tariq Elahi Mastoi stated that the operation was in accordance with national policy. “For over five decades, Pakistan has hosted our Afghan brothers and shared our homes, land and food,” he said. “Now, in accordance with the new policy, they are being sent home 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.
“The evicted houses are being demolished as they are illegally built on government land. No major protests have been reported since the residents were informed about the policy,” he added.
West Anti-Incroachment SHO Shayan Anjum explained that when Afghan families started leaving, land mafia groups tried to take over. “They spray painted the walls and tried to claim ownership. We received complaints on Tuesday evening and by 6 o’clock on Wednesday the operation was underway,” he said.
He confirmed that over 250 houses and permanent structures had been demolished so far. “About 1,300 Afghan residents remain, awaiting confirmation or short-term extensions,” he added. The land, which is part of MDA’s Taiser Town ballot, cannot be privately occupied.
“The situation was chaotic, with several groups sharing plots among themselves. However, the operation has restored control and more demolitions will follow,” Anjum concluded.
As the state enforces its repatriation policy and reclaims public land, Karachi’s decades-old Afghan refugee settlement is rapidly emptying. Although about 1,300 Afghans remain in the area, officials expect the camp to be completely abandoned soon. It will mark the end of one of the city’s largest and longest-running refugee communities.
