KARACHI:
The controversy surrounding an alleged construction on an excavated land in Hill Park has taken a dramatic turn, with mayor’s lawyer Murtaza Wahab revealing that the disputed land at the center of the case does not appear in the original PECHS layout plan, while Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) officials claim that a fake no-objection certificate (NOC) was used in an attempt to legitimize the development.
The latest findings were made during an ongoing KMC investigation into construction activities on land adjacent to Hill Park, one of Karachi’s most important public recreational spaces. Officials say the investigation has raised serious questions about the authenticity of ownership documents, the legal status of the disputed land and possible attempts to mislead government authorities.
According to Mayor Wahab, those involved in the construction presented lease and ownership documents purportedly issued by the Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS). However, a review of official documents revealed that the PECHS Block 6 land – the one cited in the documents – does not exist in the original development plan approved by the company. “The land records currently under review have failed to establish the existence of the disputed land in its original layout,” the mayor said, adding that KMC has never allocated any part of Hill Park land to any individual or organization. He noted that under a 1974 government notification, Hill Park covers around 56 acres and remains public land under the jurisdiction of KMC. If investigations establish that the PECHS route has been illegally altered or that encroachments have taken place on Hill Park land, legal action will be taken against those responsible.
The mayor said investigations and investigations continue to establish the full facts of the case, including reviewing documents that investigators suspect were fabricated.
As part of the investigation, Wahab released copies of documents released by the parties claiming ownership rights to the disputed land. The document bears signatures attributed to retired Lt Col Naseemuddin through his lawyer, retired Major AM Waqar.
The agreement states that a residential plot of 500 square meters was allotted on the decision of the management committee of the society, with an initial premium of only Rs seven per square meter. However, KMC officials say that if the land itself cannot be located in the original layout plan, the legal validity of all subsequent ownership and transfer documents becomes questionable.
The investigation also revealed what KMC officials describe as an attempt to pressure Hill Park authorities using a fake NOC.
According to official documents obtained, a false notice dated April 21 was distributed with the aim of justifying construction activities near the park. Following complaints, the KMC Land Department wrote to the Director General of Parks on April 28, formally informing him that the document was fraudulent.
Officials said that after the fake NOC was identified, individuals associated with the disputed land approached the KMC land department for official approval. In response, the ministry issued a conditional NOC on April 30. The document explicitly prohibited any construction on government-owned land or within park boundaries.
The investigation further revealed that on May 18, the KMC Land Department wrote to the PECHS secretary seeking details of the ownership of the land. The letter identified Sohail Iqbal Siddiqui as the purported owner of the land and Syed Wajahat Hussain as the power of attorney holder.
KMC has now officially contacted the SSP East, demanding legal action against individuals allegedly involved in misleading public institutions.
