Authorities in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi have begun demolishing homes in an Afghan refugee settlement in Gulshan-e-Maymar, claiming the operation is aimed at preventing land grabbing. Afghan residents, however, say they legally purchased the plots and are now being denied ownership rights.

According to Pakistani media reports on Wednesday, the National Development Authority has taken control of the refugee camp's land and started tearing down abandoned or disputed structures.

Local television network Bol News quoted Irfan Baloch, the West Karachi police chief, as saying that more than 300 houses and several shops in the predominantly Afghan neighbourhood were demolished during Wednesday's operation.

Baloch said the demolition drive would resume on Thursday morning and continue for several days. He added that several individuals had been detained for resisting the operation.

Earlier, the West Karachi police chief had voiced concerns about what he described as“illegal land occupation” by Afghan refugees.

The Gulshan-e-Maymar camp hosts around 3,000 houses, accommodating an estimated 15,000 Afghan refugees. Local reports suggest that most residents have already returned to Afghanistan, while roughly 1,500 remain in the area.

Rights activists have condemned the demolitions, calling them part of a broader crackdown on Afghan refugees who have faced evictions, harassment, and arrests across Pakistan in recent months.

Observers say the demolitions could further strain relations between Islamabad and Kabul, as thousands of Afghan refugees continue to face uncertainty and deteriorating living conditions in Pakistan.

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