The Violence: Clashes erupted yesterday around noon time when Bahria Town Karachi administration was back with the intention of continuing their encroachment efforts in order to gain land in the villages around the town of Gadap. Bahria Town Administration accompanied by Sindh Police engaged in violent skirmishes with unarmed local villagers, as construction equipment tried to carry out work. Videos showed bullets being fired on unarmed civilians as they struggled to free from the lands that the real estate firm was trying to occupy. Social media flooded with footage under the hashtag #SayNoToBahriaTown. Outrage from users questioned the power of the government and their silence over the issue. The mafia style takeover got significant coverage from independent news outlets and Twitter handles.
Stand up & #SayNoToBahriaTown pic.twitter.com/XOzYGezJ2S
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) May 7, 2021
Bahria admin has opened fire on the local people of Kathore & Gadap, who are resisting the land grabbing of Bahria Karachi. Sindh Govt is in league with Malik Riaz, Media has been bribed.
This is terrorism, where are the state and judiciary?#ArrestMalikRiaz#SayNoToBahriaTown pic.twitter.com/XaUEI2nLj2— Ayaz Latif Palijo (@AyazLatifPalijo) May 7, 2021
Action taken: The Sindh Chief Minister has taken action at the atrocities committed by Bahria Town by removing the assistant commissioner of Gadap town and also the SHO. The Chief Minister stated that these people have been removed for not maintaining peace in the area, and added that the rights of the common citizen will not be violated. He promised that the rights of local people will be protected by the government. He also ensured that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto had taken notice of the incident.
Chairman #PPP @BBhuttoZardari's notice of the incident between Bahria town and locals, CM Sindh @MuradAliShahPPP removes Gadap Assistant Commissioner and Mukhtiarkar. @SyedNasirHShah pic.twitter.com/1kDdQCzRKO
— Raza Dharejo PPP (Official) (@RazaDharijo) May 8, 2021
Victims and the injured: PPP members along with MPA Sajid Jokhio visited the people affected by the bulldozing and assured them that action would be taken. MNA Jam Abdul Kareem also visited Jinnah Hospital to see the injured.