According to Anti-Encroachment Director Shiraz Mirani, heavy machinery is being used to raze the illegal structures.

“The operation had been temporarily halted on Monday due to the unavailability of police personnel, but it has now been resumed and will continue until all illegal constructions are removed,” he said.

Director of MDA Estate Farooq Bugti said that the operation covers 234 acres of land belonging to the Malir Development Authority (MDA), where more than 3,100 illegal houses had been built.

“We are reclaiming the land phase by phase,” he added.

Officials said security forces are assisting in maintaining law and order during the operation.

Last week, the same operation faced violent resistance when a mob pelted stones at police teams and heavy machinery.

Police responded with tear gas shelling and aerial firing to disperse the attackers.

Law enforcement officials claimed that many of those involved were not permanent residents of the settlement but had arrived to occupy the vacated houses.