Encroachments in Pindi: LHC seeks replies from city, cantt admins

DCO, RDA director-general have been asked to appear before court on Dec 12

RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Wednesday directed the district administration and cantonment managers to submit replies on a petition regarding illegal encroachments in various parts of the city.

Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi directed the district coordination officer, the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) director general, executive officers of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, and the administrators of Rawal and Potohar towns to appear in person on December 12.

The judge also directed the city managers to submit detailed responses within seven days after Advocate Anwar Dar filed a public interest petition in the high court.

The petitioner told The Express Tribune that after he provided the bench with photographs of various encroached roads and markets, the court asked the government officials to be present in the court during the next hearing.

He said that Justice Lodhi expressed his displeasure over rampant encroachments and the inefficiency of city managers.

The petitioner, while citing the heads of the district administration and cantonment areas as respondents, has petitioned before the court for the removal of encroachments and cleaning of over 100 seasonal streams in the district.

Advocate Dar had argued before the court that the district administration and the cantonment authorities had failed to remove encroachments from major city roads.

He added that security agencies had also closed many roads, citing security concerns.

The petitioner said that residents of Rawalpindi had to suffer mental and physical disturbance due to the encroachments.

He claimed that there was a strong public perception that the encroachers had occupied different roads and markets in connivance with the concerned authorities.

The petitioner said that encroachments had led to massive traffic jams adding to woes of the commuters.

He added that areas such as Tench Bhatta, Dehri Hassanabad, cantonment areas, Raja Bazaar, and Commercial Market were full of encroachments.

Advocate Dar prayed before the court to direct the concerned authorities to remove the encroachments and ensure cleanliness on the roadways.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2015.