Armed attack on anti-encroachment team leaves mukhtiarkar dead.

KARACHI -- A revenue official (mukhtiarkar) was on Monday shot dead and two other officials were wounded by what police described as 'land mafia' during an anti-encroachment operation to vacate a plot in Surjani Town on court orders.

SSP-West Faisal Bashir Memon told Dawn that the mukhtiarkar of Manghopir, Ejaz Ali Chandio, along with mobiles vans of anti-encroachment cell of the Sindh government's Board of Revenue backed by local police, led a campaign in Surjani Town's Saira Bibi Goth to vacate a plot of the Saylani Welfare Trust.

However, they were faced stiff resistance from the occupants of the land, who resorted to firing, wounding a mukhtiarkar, tapedar and a shovel operator.

Mukhtiarkar Chandio was taken to a private hospital on Stadium Road where he was pronounced dead.

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SSP Memon said the victim had sustained bullet wounds in the chest.

Deputy Commissioner-West Shazia Jaffar told Dawn that the 'land mafia' had occupied a plot measuring around 1,000 square yards.

She said that the trust had planned to use the space for their welfare activity in the locality and it was the duty of the administration to comply with the court order with regard to getting vacated the amenity plot vacated from illegal occupation.

The deputy commissioner said the administration had planned an anti-encroachment operation around one week ago. However, she regretted that local police never provided back-up support to district administration whenever it planned such actions.

She said it was not the first incident in which land mafia shot government officials as recently, prior to her assuming charge of the DC-West, another official was shot and wounded during an anti-encroachment drive.

Terming the deceased officer a 'martyr', she said that such officers were asset for the administration.

About the condition of two other wounded persons, she said they were out of danger.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that wounded Saeed Alam, 40, was taken to the Abbasi...