HOW HAS BAHRIA TOWN’S DEVELOPMENT DISPLACED VARIOUS COMMUNITIES?
Investigative reports have revealed that in the past few years, the indigenous communities residing in Sindh and Balochistan were threatened into giving up or using the official term, “sell”, their lands to Bahria Town Karachi (BTK). These communities have looked after, cultivated, and lived on their lands for generations, but they are suffering through relentless and dragged-out assaults. The Malir police, at that time commanded by SSP Rao Anwar, led violent raids on the local civilians on the unverified charges of terrorism. Following suit, Bahria’s forces, consisting of retired military personnel, repeatedly strong-armed and terrorized the local community. Alongside these tragic events, in Tauheed commercial area (Karachi), registration forms for buying and selling Bahria Town’s illegally obtained lands are being distributed by real estate agents who see this as a business opportunity.
Recently, an All-Parties Conference (APC) labelled Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) illegitimate and against the Pakistani constitution. The conference described BTK’s actions as a modern depiction of colonization, and they demanded that the stolen land be reinstated to its original dwellers. The APC was organized by the Indigenous Rights Alliance at the border of Gadap Town Karachi, and many prominent personalities like the nationalist party representatives from Sindh and Balochistan and the PML-N attended. The conference generated a resolution which stated that Bahria Town Karachi had taken over the local’s land illegally and their construction projects must be halted immediately. Furthermore, BTK’s actions are seen as colonialism in the 21st century, and some people say that it is worse than the colonialism carried out in the 18th century. Lastly, the resolution declared that BTK was an accomplice in the invasion of worldwide capitalism.
IMPACT OF BAHRIA TOWN’S DEVELOPMENT ON THE INDEGENOUS PEOPLE
The Sindh Indigenous Rights Alliance leader, Hafeez Baloch, who is also a local resident of Gadap Kator, a village next to Bahria Town Karachi, reported that the villages at the fringe of BTK had been pressured and displaced over the last eight years. Additionally, human rights activists state that groups who are vocalizing their opposition against BTK’s forced eviction and occupation of indigenous lands are being suppressed and stifled. Recently, a local residing in Gadap Town (Karachi) was shot and injured in a rain of bullets allegedly led by Bahria Town Karachi’s private guards. At the same time, BTK’s construction machinery started to bulldoze through various agricultural grounds in order to clear land for housing schemes on the border of the city. Moreover, the police forces were unwilling to disclose any details, but a member of the Indigenous Rights Alliance reported that BTK’s officers attempted to terminate crops in Kamal Khan Jokhio Goth and faced collective resistance from the locals and had no choice but to retreat. However, according to reports of the locals, the armed forces, both official and unofficial members, returned to the scene after a few hours and continued their attempts to destroy the local crops with heavy machinery such as bulldozers.
Another disturbing incident occurred when police officers entered Murad Gabol’s, a resident of Noor Mohammad Goth, house in the middle of the night while his two children were asleep. These officers physically assaulted Gabol and his family and locked them up in jail even though the residents showed them papers proving their homeownership. Gabol’s family had lived on this land for generations, even before Pakistan came into existence. They received their ownership papers from the British when Pakistan was formed, proving that they legally own this land. Furthermore, Gabol states that since the development of Baria Town’s housing scheme began between Karachi and Hyderabad, Indigenous people are being forced to give up their lands through extreme measures.
GOVERNMENTAL EFFORTS TO COUNTER SUCH ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENT
Bahria Town Karachi’s actions have not gone unnoticed by the government. The Sindh Action Committee (SAC) held a press conference at Karachi Press Club to address the widely raised concerns of the public regarding Bahria Town’s illegal development schemes in the outskirts of the city. The committee also addressed the events of a peaceful protest against BTK carried out on June 6 on M-9 Motorway. The SAC declared that Bahria Town was initially supposed to be constructed across 16,800 acres of land. However, as there was no official distinction of such land, Bahria Town has now spread itself across 50,000 acres of land. A member of the committee, Qadir Magsi, states that it is unacceptable to let BTK illegally occupy indigenous land as this land is under the legal ownership of Sindhis and BTK cannot be allowed to practice modernization under the ruse of development and progress on these lands. Additionally, the committee clarified that they are not against progress or modernization, but they will not support this development without the consent of the actual indigenous landowners of Sindh.
Furthermore, the government of Sindh has clearly stated that they will make sure that any illegally obtained or excess land occupied by Bahria Town will be retrieved. Moreover, if there is any violation of this verdict, it will be met with strict legal action against the perpetrators, be it members of the government of Sindh, MDA, or any management official of BTLK. Additionally, the Supreme Court demonstrated severe aversion towards the local and provincial authorities for ignoring this issue of illegal occupancy, unauthorized construction schemes, and illegitimate distribution of indigenous lands. The Supreme Court also expressed resentment over the lack of rehabilitation provided to the displaced indigenous locals. The chief minister has approved and reassured the concerned parties that the provincial government will collect nine billion rupees to fund the rehabilitation of displaced communities in two years. Regarding the elimination of encroachments, court orders have been submitted and are currently being implemented. However, a more humanitarian approach has to be considered regarding the displaced and assaulted indigenous community, so the court is seeking the public’s help.
CONCLUSION
Progress and development are an integral part of modernization, and there is no denying that it is vital for the betterment of society. However, it is crucial to not overlook the rights of various communities or use illegal means to justify progress.
