All Karachi Traders Alliance (AKTA) held an emergency meeting under the leadership of Chairman Atiq Mir, where representatives from the tenant community, particularly those associated with the Evacuee Trust Property Board, gathered to express their concerns over the recently amended property rent law. In a united stance, the participants rejected the new law and announced a nationwide protest against it. The law, which allows for an 8% annual increase in rent and additional hikes every six years based on the discretion of officers and market value, has drawn severe criticism from the tenant community. Representatives from the Evacuee Trust Property tenants’ action committee have called this move an unfair burden on the already struggling renters, particularly those who endured hardships during partition and migration. The law’s implementation, according to the tenants, is cruel and unjust, as it creates significant financial pressure on them. The new law mandates that the property management can impose rent increases without considering the economic circumstances of tenants, leading to further exploitation. Tenants are particularly upset by the retroactive application of the law, with some facing demands for rent arrears dating back to 2006. Atiq Mir strongly criticized the amendments, describing them as a dagger to the heart of tenants and a violation of their rights. He also brought attention to the fact that the department has been applying an 8% annual rent increase for the past 17 years, which has already made it difficult for tenants to meet their obligations. The new law is expected to escalate the crisis further, with tenants fearing the imposition of arbitrary and excessive rent increases.
The protest, which will be held at the Evacuee Trust Property office in Old Exhibition, Karachi, is expected to involve a large number of tenants from across the country.
