Residents Protest Against Alleged Attempts to Restrict Shaheed Shafiq Cemetery in Scheme 42Protesters Demonstrate Outside Karachi Press Club, Demand Protection of Cemetery Land and Existing Boundaries

KARACHI: Residents of the surrounding areas held a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club against what they described as alleged attempts to restrict the boundaries of Shafi Cemetery, located in LERP Scheme 42, Sector 8.According to local residents, the cemetery has been serving the communities of Musharraf Colony, LERP Scheme 42 and adjoining areas for nearly two decades. They said the cemetery is currently being used for the burial of deceased residents from approximately 500 nearby quarters and surrounding localities.The protesters expressed concern that any reduction in the existing cemetery area or changes to its boundaries could create serious difficulties for future burials. They demanded that the existing boundaries of the cemetery be protected and that no portion of the designated cemetery land be reduced.The protesters also called upon LERP, LDA and other relevant authorities to clarify the official status, land record and boundaries of the cemetery and to take the local community into confidence before taking any decision concerning the site.They further demanded that the cemetery’s present and future requirements be taken into consideration and that adequate land be preserved for burial purposes for the growing population of the area.Speaking during the demonstration, residents said the cemetery is a collective community facility and urged the authorities to resolve the matter through consultation with local residents and ensure its protection.The protesters raised slogans in support of their demands and appealed to the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to safeguard the cemetery and provide a permanent solution to the issue.