Pakistan Quarters

Pakistan Quarters is a neighborhood in Karachi East district of Karachi, Pakistan. It was previously administered as part of Jamshed Town,[1] which was disbanded in 2011. It is one of the government colonies like Martin Quarters, Clyton Quarters or Jamshed Quarters in Karachi, where housing unite is allotted to an employee of federal government according to entitlement and transfer of house allowance from his/her monthly remuneration as rent to the Estate Office, a department in the Ministry of Housing & Works. Retired government servants may, for a specific period, continue the occupancy of his/her allotted residence on payment of standard rent in the Estate Office. It is also described that after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, thousands of Muslim migrated to Pakistan and faced housing crisis. In 1953, Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra had initiated the housing scheme for the refugees including Pakistan Quarters.[2]

Pakistan Quarters
پاکستان کوارٹرز
Neighbourhood
DistrictKarachi East
CityKarachi
CountryPakistan
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

There are several ethnic groups including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras Ismailis and Christians.

Claims & hardships

Residents of Government colonies, including Pakistan Quarters have been demanding ownership on the basis of longstanding occupation. In 2003 representatives of Government colonies through a press conference at Karachi Press Club condemned the eviction notices for dislodging retired government servants and the heirs of the employees who died during their services or after retirement. They demanded allotment of land of housing units at a reasonable price for the transfer of ownership to occupants most of them were children of founders of Pakistan.[3]

Earlier to 2008 Housing Ministry has twice moved its summary to the Federal Cabinet for awarding ownership rights to people living in government colonies in Karachi and sector G-6 of Islamabad, which were rejected.[4]

The residents of Government colonies had raised their complaints about the encroachments and influence of land mafia for decades. Reportedly not only the land grabbers but also the concerned offices have provided houses on rent and sold an illegally constructed house or shop.[5] According to a surveyor report published in the print media, besides encroachments, detail of residents was depicted as:

  • 60% houses/flats are in possession of serving government employees
  • 30% belong to retired servants or their families
  • 10% by illegal occupants.[6]

The federal government had declared illegal occupants to peoples living in the government quarters at Martin Road, Jehangir Road, F. C. Area, Pakistan Quarters, etc.[7] Many families living in these quarters have been there for decades and they also claim to be legal owners of their houses which were allotted to their ancestors who were founding member of Pakistan.[8] However, Eviction Notices to the families of deceased or retired government servants have been issued since 1980.[9]

Political promises

Elder residents of government colonies describe that since the period of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, various political leaders had, from time to time, assured the residents for award of ownership of allotted housing unite.[10][11][9]

Ownership certificates

The then care taker minister for Housing & Works, disclosed that the government would allot quarters to its employees on an ownership basis at Pakistan & Martin Quarters[12] Consequently in its first phase, 1,736 eligibility certificates on the basis of long-standing occupancy were distributed to the residents of Martin Quarters, Clyton Quarters, Patel Para in September 2006. Later 394 residents of Pakistan Quarters were also awarded similar certificates.[13] Subsequently Federal Housing Minister stated that eligibility certificates issued to the residents of government colonies had no legal value and could be withdrawn.[14] However, no letter or notice was served to the residents, in manner the eligibility certificates issued.

In 2008, the then Secretary of Ministry of Housing & Works stated that a committee was set up by the former Prime Minister for deliberation of a proposal to award the ownership eligibility certificates to the residents of government quarters on the basis of their long stay in the housing units of government colonies in Karachi and Islamabad. During 2006, Syed Safwanullah, the Federal Minister of Housing and Works issued the proposed certificates at his discretion without waiting for the approval of the policy[15]

Petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Per Resolution: 2004/28 of High Commission for Human Rights Forced eviction is prohibited.[16] In response to eviction notices, affected residents living in the government colonies filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but could not satisfy the court.

In July-2018 the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered to get the housing unites situated in Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jamshed Quarters, Clayton Quarters, Federal Capital Area, and other colonies of Karachi evacuated within 10 days from the alleged illegal occupants[17] Reportedly family members living in the Pakistan Quarters and other government colonies after retirement or death of a government servant whom the quarter was allotted protested outside Supreme Court Karachi Registry against the issued verdict.[18][19]

Police Operation

On 24 October-2018, 16 people injured and dozens were arrested during a protest against the operation to evict the Pakistan Quarters by its longstanding residents. Death of one woman was also reported when Police used to baton-charge and fired tear gas to disperse the mob. Consequently Chief Justice of Pakistan ordered to hold the evacuation process and pended it for a period of three months. Operation was condemned by leaders of different political parties of Pakistan, including PTI local representatives.[20][21][22][23] Members of different Political parties in Karachi, including Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) disliked the police action in Pakistan Quarters on 24 October-2018 and appealed the federal government to resolve the very old issue by granting ownership rights to the residents of the government quarters. However, mixed reaction was noticed at national level.[24]

Chief Minister of Sindh ordered immediate withdrawal of police from the area and expressed his displeasure over the police action in Pakistan Quarters. It is further added that he would take-up the issue with the provincial administration and Law Department, and also approach the Supreme Court if necessary with a view to arrive at a resolution on "humanitarian grounds" [25]

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See also

Patel Para

References
  1. Jamshed Town - Government of Karachi Archived 2006-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
  2. A story behind every name
  3. "KARACHI: Ownership of govt quarters demanded". Dawn (newspaper). 7 February 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. Zia M. Khan (22 May 2008). "Jamshed and Marton quarters: issued ownership rights could be withdrawn, says Kakar". Business Recorder. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. Aamir Khan (14 February 2004). "KARACHI: Land mafia has free hand in govt quarters". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  6. Aamir Khan (27 October 2017). "Illegal occupants to be ousted from federal residential colonies in Karachi". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. Correspondent (31 July 2018). "Protests prompt Estate Office, police to leave Pakistan Quarters". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  8. Nasir Butt (31 July 2018). "Govt housing to be vacated after SC dismisses stay petition". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  9. Sabeen Jamil (12 October 2008). "city calling Public investment on government land - Whose quarter is this anyway?". The News of Jang Group. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  10. Faraz Israr (25 October 2018). "Political parties slam use of force". The Nation, Pakistan. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  11. "Political parties of Karachi oppose govt surveys of federal colonies". The Express Tribune. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  12. "KARACHI: 'More low-cost housing schemes next month'". Dawn (newspaper). 28 July 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  13. Correspondent (3 September 2007). "394 get ownership rights". The News (newspaper-achieve). Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  14. Zia M. Khan (22 May 2008). "Jamshed and Marton quarters: issued ownership rights could be withdrawn, says Kaka". Business Recorder. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  15. "Over 3,000 govt plots allotted without approval in Karachi". Business Recorder. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  16. HRC (16 April 2004). "Prohibition of forced evictions" (PDF). High Commissioner For Human Rights. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  17. "Police and residents clash in Karachi". The Gulf Today. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  18. Aslam Shah (1 August 2018). "SC orders Estate Office to resume vacating federal govt quarters". Daily Times. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  19. Faraz Khan (25 October 2018). "Pakistan Quarters residents fight police to keep their homes, and win, for now". The News. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  20. Associate Press (24 October 2018). "Pakistanis From Government Homes Clash With Karachi Police". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  21. "CJP Extends Eviction Deadline for Karachi'sPakistan Quarters After Protests". Business Recorder. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  22. "Pakistan Quarters: Stones pelted at vehicle of PTI leader, operation suspended for three months". Dunya News.tv. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  23. "CJP extends eviction deadline for Karachi's Pakistan Quarters after protests". Geo News.tv. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  24. "Parties show rare unity over police action against residents of Pakistan Quarters". Dawn (News paper). 25 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  25. Imtiaz Ali, Asim Khan and Haseeb Bhatti via AP (24 October 2018). "After police and protesters clash, CJP extends deadline for eviction of Pakistan Quarters residents". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 October 2018.

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