کھجی گراؤنڈ | |
Interactive map of Khajji Ground | |
| Location | Gulbahar, near Golimar, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°53′41″N67°01′26″E / 24.89472°N 67.02389°E |
| Operator | Karachi Metropolitan Corporation |
| Type | Playground and public open space |
Khajji Ground, also spelled Khaji Ground, is an open ground in the Gulbahar and Golimar area of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. [1] [2] It is used as a playground and is situated adjacent to a graveyard. [2] [3]
During the 1990s, the area surrounding Khajji Ground was identified as a focal point of civil unrest and military engagement, specifically during Operation Clean-up, where casualties from factional violence were discarded during this period. [4] [5] In 1995, a nearby girls' primary school was occupied by police forces, affecting access for residents of adjacent neighbourhoods such as Mohammadabad and Waheedabad. [4]
Following security operations involving the Pakistan Rangers, the ground resumed utility as a recreational space. By the early 2000s, it was used for organized sports fixtures and public festivals. [6]
During the 2010s, law enforcement agencies recovered weapons buried within the vicinity of the graveyard. [7] [8] [9] During the 2010s and 2020s, the adjacent Khajji Ground graveyard was used for burials connected to Gulbahar and adjacent neighbourhoods. [10] [11] Targeted killings and shootings in the vicinity were periodically reported in the Rizvia police station limits and nearby parts of Golimar and Gulbahar. [12] In 2025, further arms recovery operations were reported connected to the site. [13]
In March 2025, a petition was filed with the Sindh High Court regarding the use of the ground for garbage dumping and the presence of encroachments. [14] In May 2025, the court directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to undertake restoration activities. [2] Subsequent hearings in August 2025 involved summons for municipal officials to address encroachment clearance and funding for rehabilitation. [15] [16]