In line with the government’s decision, the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland is underway
KARACHI:
The operation to demolish houses in the Afghan settlement of Gulshan-e-Mimar continued on the fifth day. So far, over 1200 houses have been buried.
Regarding this, Director Anti-Encroachment Ameer Fazal Avesi and SHO Zone 1 Shayan Anjum stated that Gulshan-e-Maymar Afghan Refugee Camp covers an area of 215 acres and includes over 3,200 residential and commercial units. In line with the government’s decision, the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland is underway.
Avesi said houses and buildings built on this land are being demolished to prevent illegal occupation by the land mafia and the land is being reclaimed by the state.
On Sunday, the fifth day of the Afghan camp’s demolition, Anti-Encroachment Force Zone One, Malir Development Authority (MDA) and District Police participated. Per Avesi, this land worth billions of rupees belongs to the Malir Development Authority. DSP Manghopir Masroor Ahmed Jatoi said that over 15,000 Afghan refugees were settled in the Afghan tent city, of which more than 90 percent, approximately 14,000 Afghan refugees, have already returned to their native 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 staying illegally in various areas as per government policy. This operation will continue until the ground is completely cleared.
Need to regulate illegal settlements
Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor welcomed the demolition of illegal Afghan Basti on M-9 Superhighway on Sunday, saying all other illegal settlements in the mega city should either be regularized or demolished as per the law.
He said the Afghan Basti had been a den of crime and drug dealing. It is a welcome move to have it torn down. He suggested that the former Afghan Basti’s land should be used to develop a modern park as the mega city faces a huge shortage of parks, gardens and green spaces.
