Karachi Land Dispute Clash Highlights Real Estate Power Struggle
A real estate power struggle in Karachi sparked a violent clash near Mai Kolachi Road last year. The incident happened close to the US consulate. As a result, it raised fresh concerns about land disputes in the city.
Sources say the conflict involved a three-acre plot in a prime location. Builder Javed Iqbal co-owned the land. He hired a local JUI-F leader, Jibrail Khan, to supervise the property.
Clash Over Prime Land
Days before the fight, supporters of influential figures reportedly tried to occupy the plot. On Feb 25, Jibrail confronted them during a tense exchange. However, police
quickly registered serious criminal charges against him.
Authorities filed an FIR accusing him of rioting, kidnapping, and attempted murder. In addition, police opened multiple FIRs against him across Sindh. These cases included allegations of theft, robbery, and even cattle stealing.
People close to Jibrail questioned the sudden wave of accusations. One source said he never travelled beyond Karachi in Sindh. Even after a court cleared him, prison officials continued to detain him.
Politics and Lawlessness in Focus
The dispute soon drew political attention. Mr Iqbal claimed police also detained him for four days. He said officers pressured him to surrender the plot in writing. However, he refused and later received relief from the Sindh High Court.
JUI-F Sindh leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro defended Jibrail publicly. He warned that powerful “crocodiles” wanted to grab the land. Therefore, he demanded a quick resolution before tensions grew worse.
This case reflects deeper problems in Karachi’s real estate sector. Many insiders describe the city as divided into zones of influence. In addition, they claim middlemen manage land deals for powerful groups.
Civil society voices say fear limits open discussion. Still, Karachi’s valuable land continues to fuel conflict and corruption. Overall, this real estate power struggle shows how strongly politics and property remain linked in Sindh today.
