Police book 30 residents of DHA for issuing threats to CBC staff

KARACHI: Karachi police on Wednesday booked at least 30 residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) who took part in a protest against the incompetence of Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) officials On August 31.

Police registered a case at Darakhshan police station against the protesters after CBC officials accused them of shouting slogans against the board, intruding in CBC building, vandalism and issuing threats to staff during the demonstration.

The FIR has been lodged under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 148 (rioting), 147 (punishment for rioting), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Munawar Hasan, building and security supervisor of the CBC.

After recent heavy rain, irate residents of Clifton and Defence areas lodged a protest outside the office of CBC over incompetence and negligence of the authorities to drain out rainwater accumulated on streets and lack of amenities.

The protesters said that the people living in the said areas pay millions in taxes but are still deprived of basic amenities.

کنٹونمنٹ بورڈ کلفٹن کا دفتر کے باہر مظاہرہ کرنے والوں کے خلاف مقدمہ۔ ایف آر میں سرکاری اہلکاروں کو دہشت زدہ کرنا، حدود میں زبردستی داخلے، کار سرکار میں مداخلت اور ریلیفُ کے کام کو متاثر کرنے کے الزامات؛ pic.twitter.com/NcFjPmLb96

— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) September 2, 2020

They pointed out that an audit of the flood relief tax collected by the CBC be shared with them and called on the board’s members to be held accountable for the lack of amenities provided to them over the years.

Apart from demanding an improvement in the sewerage system, they also asked the CBC to improve garbage collection in the area.

The irate residents maintained that the recent monsoon rains have exposed the poor performance of the Clifton board as rainwater could not be cleared from the roads.

After the recent downpours, many parts of these posh localities plunged into darkness for days. In many localities, power was restored after sixty hours while some still don’t have electricity even after five days.

The residents were literally in the dark as they had no power, gas, cellular or internet connections while their houses were flooded and the streets were inundated.