Khajji Ground

Last updated

Khajji Ground
کھجی گراؤنڈ
Khajji Ground
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 / 24.89472; 67.02389
Operator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation
TypePlayground 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]

History

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]

References

  1. https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-52899681
  2. 1 2 3 "SHC directs KMC to restore Khajji Ground". The News International . 29 May 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  3. "Khajji Ground becomes garbage dump". The Express Tribune . 31 March 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 "KARACHI: Police occupying girls school since '95". Dawn . 2 May 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  5. "NA-247: It is here the seeds of ethnic divide were sown". The Express Tribune . 6 May 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  6. "Pakistan Day sports festival starts on Friday". Dawn . 25 March 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  7. "Rangers, police recover weapons buried in Karachi cemetery". The News International. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  8. "Another cache of arms found in graveyard". Dawn. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  9. "Finance director of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital remanded in weapons case". Dawn. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  10. "'Sectarian killing' sparks violence in Gulbahar". Dawn. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  11. "Under attack: Slain MQM workers laid to rest". The Express Tribune . 6 January 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  12. "Violent times: Two men gunned down in targeted attacks, two bodies found". The Express Tribune . 24 April 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  13. "کراچی میں گلبہار کے کھجی گراؤنڈ سے دبایا گیا اسلحہ برآمد". Geo News (in Urdu). December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  14. "Petitioners told to approach anti-encroachment tribunal for restoring Khajji Ground". The News International. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  15. "SHC summons top officials on petition against encroachment". The Express Tribune . 22 August 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  16. "کھجی گراؤنڈ میں تجاوزات کے معاملے پر میئر کراچی سندھ ہائیکورٹ طلب". Daily Jang (in Urdu). May 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.