KARACHI: An operation jointly launched by Pakistan Rangers Sindh, police, and the Malir Development Authority (MDA) to demolish the decades-old Afghan Basti in Gulshan-e-Maymar area of Karachi turned violent on Wednesday.
The settlement, established nearly 40 years ago, once housed around 30,000 Afghan nationals who were evacuated in three phases. Around 2,000 residents still remained in the area. Some vacant houses were reportedly being illegally occupied, prompting the latest action.
Rangers and police sealed all entry and exit points of the area, while heavy contingents were deployed to maintain law and order during the operation.
However, tension erupted as residents and other individuals resisted the demolition. Angry protesters pelted stones at police and heavy machinery, prompting police to respond with aerial firing and tear gas shelling. Several protesters were taken into custody for attacking law enforcers.
Police officials claimed that many of the rioters were not actual residents of the Afghan Basti but had gathered to occupy the vacant houses.
DIG West Irfan Baloch stated that the land will be completely vacated and handed over to the MDA after the operation.
Earlier, federal authorities had ordered the closure of all Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed the provincial government to take possession of the vacated lands.
Similar actions have also been launched in Punjab under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan (IFRP).
