In the past couple of days we saw the rise and fall of the Bin Qasim Park issue in Karachi.
According to a document circulating in the social media a couple of days ago, the Sindh Government sold the Bin Qasim park to Malik Riaz, a decision which took the social media by storm.
The response was so overwhelming that Malik Riaz was forced to reconsider his decision. He later tweeted saying Bahria Town wouldn’t take over the park unless all stakeholders, including the mayor agreed to the arrangement.
We will NOT take over this park till all stakeholders including Mayor Karachi agree to hand it over to us, rest assured. #Karachi #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/4O4rUeDjFx
— Malik Riaz Hussain (@MalikRiaz_) March 31, 2017
All’s well that ends well, but Twitter had a LOT to say about it all, most of it not very positive…
Kachra uthane ke liye China, Park maintain karne ke liye Bahria Town aur Corruption ke liye Dubai Return Ministers. PPP has all solutions pic.twitter.com/IWndzJUlnL
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) March 30, 2017
Even if the Govt wanted the park to be developed it could have done the job itself – or held a public hearing on whether this should be done pic.twitter.com/iSTnNlyq4y
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) March 30, 2017
They might as well give Karachi to Malik Riaz. Karachi will just be known as Bahria Town. Special place in hell for him and the PPP. https://t.co/SR6Mrj6rTJ
— Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) March 30, 2017
Qabza Alert….Sindh government hands over Karachi’s biggest park Bagh Ibne Qasim spanning over 130 acres to Bahria Town pic.twitter.com/omhTxlfpBH
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) March 30, 2017
Don’t freak out about a park being handed over to Bahria town, that may not end badly. Do freak out over this: https://t.co/CRVzFCqIXs
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) March 30, 2017
@ZarrarKhuhro @smnehad pic.twitter.com/jsIulj6VT1
— @li N@sir ™ (@alibest55) March 31, 2017
@ZarrarKhuhro pic.twitter.com/c0PlB33oLD
— Irfan Shahid (@irfan_shahid) March 31, 2017
@JawanSnow This isn’t a solution to Karachi’s problems. Did you know that most of Karachi’s water is being given to BT? Others are suffering.
— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) March 31, 2017
Not everything was negative, however. There were some who were rather hopeful about the whole situation…
Such noise about Qasim Bagh handed over to M Riaz. But there was none for the terrible shape the park has been for years. Knee-jerk stuff.
— NadeemFarooqParacha (@NadeemfParacha) March 31, 2017
Dear MQM walas who are outraging over qasim park and bahria town thing, why were you so ok with altaf hussain university by Malik Riaz ?
— Riz (@JawanSnow) March 31, 2017
Stop outraging over #Bahriatown taking over qasim park, we all know PPP cant deliver, let the bahria maintain the park and make it better.
— Riz (@JawanSnow) March 31, 2017
Why is there so much ruckus over Bahria Town “adapting” Qasim Park Khi? They r experts & can manage it better than anyone else. Support it.
— ولید (@MWKspeaks) March 31, 2017
In2005, AskariPark was givn 2da army for 99 yr under city govt’s adopt-a-park scheme. It was #Halal but Adoption of Qasim park KHI is #Haram
— GM Buriro (@buriroGM) March 31, 2017
@murtazazb1 @Xadeejournalist @JstceAndEqulty @RukhsanaQ @kooldjrian2 See the quality of Punjab roads and Parks.. Bahria Town will convert the Qasim Park into a high standard park like parks in Lahore
— Ali (@alirocker15) March 31, 2017
Well, at least someone is concerned about city’s approval, even if it isn’t the citizens’ elected representatives. https://t.co/jAFpi35pXV
— Asad Khawaja (@asadmkh) March 31, 2017
And then there were those who were just enjoying the show…
Chacha Malik Riaz, Ibn e Qasim Park le lein aur usmain Bahria Town wala Dancing Fountain laga dein please. @BTKUpdates
— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) March 31, 2017
Tareeq likhey gi k kasey Malik Riaz Bahira tower sey utter k BIN QASIM park main chahal khadmi kartey tey….
— wardah waris (@WardahHashmi) March 30, 2017
Karachi:
Dr. Asim Zia Udding Hospital Clifton Puhanch Gaye,
*Bahria Town K Chairman Malik Riaz Nay Bin Qasim Park Lenay Se Inkar Kar Dia.— GHOTKI_UPDATE (@GHOTKI_UPDATE) March 31, 2017
chalo shukar ha mqm na bin qasim park per awaz to uthai , karachi k sare park to ya khud nigal gae , un ka bhi to hisab do.
— Dr Mahjabeen MUGHAL (@MughalMahjabeen) April 1, 2017
Malik Riaz ka Ibn e Qasim park gode lainay sae inkar
— shabbir usmani (@shabbirusmani) March 31, 2017
“Main apnay Allah ko khush kar raha hoon” – Malik Riaz on Ibn e Qasim Park #BahriaTown ?
— Haya Fatima Iqbal (@hayafatimaiqbal) March 31, 2017