It also covered the area of Hijrat Colony from where rocket was fired on June 28.
A survey of the area showed that there is a mix of residential, commercial quarters, workshops and repair establishments catering specially to the needs of heavy vehicles.
Before 1970, regular police monitoring of residents in the area kept a close check on the rise of illegal immigrants. The encroachments began coming up from 70s onwards.
Many establishments run in Masan Road and Khadda area from where roads lead to the Mauripur side. The rush towards the area from the Mauripur end also increased when the container terminal of Karachi Port was developed near Reti Lines.
With a population of mostly hutments, the gradual expansion into what came to be called 'Qabail Colony' took place during the past 30 years so much so that now it houses several colonies and one of these is Hijrat Colony.
There is a labyrinth of small lanes with two and, sometimes, three and more storey houses while the population has grown by over 200,000.
Since the TP yard of the KPT lies on the west of Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road, encroachments could not take place in the TP yard area.
The area lies behind the Institute of Bankers and other official buildings on this road.
As one descends from the Railway Overhead Bridge next to the Dawood Centre, shortly after furniture shops and the Institute of Bankers comes the main road bus stop on Maulvi Tamizuddin Road which serves this area that includes Hijrat Colony.
There are many schools, markets and mosques while a large number of small and medium size hospitals, several of them providing free medical aid to the poor sections of the area.
Mafia engaged in narcotics and illegal trafficking of goods and persons is also active there.
Many residents hold dual-identity cards - one for the residence in Karachi and another for the upcountry residence.
In the electronic and other shops, almost every smuggled item is available. One can also order anything in advance after making the agreed payment.
However, many people in this area are tight-lipped on the subject of operations of the narcotic mafia.
This area has suddenly become the centre of attention of most people in the city who want to know where the Hijrat Colony is. It is in the vicinity of this area that the UPP foreign workers were killed some years ago.
The culprits who carried out the terrorist attack on the Corps Commander Karachi could have emanated from this area.
The need is to check thoroughly the entire former Reti Lines area and the antecedents of all the residents of the area who are recent immigrants so that all suspicions that this area is now a centre of refuge for possible terrorists are removed.