KARACHI, Dec 21: Police authorities have turned down requests by the city government to help reclaim pieces of land encroached upon by different groups, pushing the provincial government to set up a committee to look into the matter.

The widening gulf between the city and provincial governments doesn’t seem close to being bridged as the ignorance shown by the local bodies’ officials regarding the committee, headed by a senior home department official and comprising senior members of the provincial administration, on the land-grabbing issue, is adding to the confusion.

Moreover, background interviews with senior officials in the police and key persons in the city government led to the conclusion that the removal of encroachments on government lands was no longer a simple task for the administrations of the various towns, nor does the CDGK seem to be in control of the law enforcement agencies.

“In fact, we suggested to the government to constitute this committee to look into the issue as we firmly believe that police action to facilitate removal of encroachments from lands cited by the city government might create a serious law and order situation,” said Waseem Ahmed, capital city police officer (CCPO).

Without naming any political party for being behind this widespread illegal activity, the CCPO urged a political solution to the problem.

“We tried our best to convince the city government but finally, the move from the provincial administration appears as a right step,” he added.

The city government, on the other hand, appeared irked by the police’s denial to move on its repeated requests against land-grabbers in a joint action with the respective town administrations. The city nazim suspects that the police are encouraging land-grabbers to encroach upon prime locations owned by the government.

He was surprised at the police response, saying that land-grabbing did not demand a political solution, rather it required a joint operation by the town administrations assisted by the police to tackle the law and order situation.

‘A law & order issue’

“I am a nazim belonging to the party that enjoys the heaviest mandate from the city on both provincial and national levels,” Mustafa Kamal said. “If I am willing to move against land-grabbers regardless of their political affiliations or unseen support, the police should cooperate with the city government.

“It’s purely the job of the city police when and where there is a law and order problem and that’s why we need their support in reclaiming those pieces of land where we fear some kind of law and order problem may develop.”

He said people at the helm of affairs – both at the provincial and national levels – were well aware of the city government’s stand but so far no positive signs had been witnessed from any side.

“The police argument encourages every individual having political association or support to move and grab any piece of government land without fearing police action in line with the defined law,” added Mr Kamal.

The recent tug of war between the police and the city government came as a reminder of the correspondence between the city police and the home ministry a couple of months ago, in which the CCPO demanded that the provincial administration move on the issue of land-grabbing, arguing that it could prompt political violence in the city.

However, the city nazim claims that he has been in touch with the police authorities for the last several months, when he first cited such land-grabbing activity but failed to attract their attention.

“We formally moved with the correspondence for 45-acre land of inter-city bus terminal, 65 acres of Safari Park and 300 acres of the proposed garment city land,” he said. “A series of meetings were held and assurances were given, but practically nothing has been done so far,” the nazim concluded.