No one has the right to occupy land, roads and raise construction under the cover of security.
KARACHI: The Rangers deserve appreciation for undertaking the most difficult task of removing barriers fixed on roads throughout Karachi. These barriers posed great inconvenience to the people, especially to those living in the surrounding areas. Barrier-removing exercises have been carried out in the past as well, but the barriers used to reappear after a while.
Now people are eagerly awaiting the fate of the greatest barrier of Karachi in front of Bilawal House — with its concrete wall causing many traffic jams on the nearby roads. No one has the right to occupy land, roads and raise construction under the cover of security. If someone feels insecure, they should get the services of private security guards.
Apart from this, another big nuisance in the city is the way car showroom owners have occupied footpaths. One can often see the owners parking their cars on main roads, often occupying up to two lanes, causing traffic jams and creating great inconvenience for pedestrians. This practice has spread like an epidemic in the city. According to building laws, the leased portion of shops or houses end at their boundary walls and the rest of the adjacent land belongs to the government.
There is definite need for the Rangers to clear the footpaths and roads and bring an end to this hooliganism. This, in fact, is perhaps even more important than removing barriers as many pedestrians put their lives in danger as they are forced to walk on roads instead of on footpaths as the latter are loaded with cars and miscellaneous goods. There should be no compromise on this issue and action must be taken.
Mukhtar Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2015.
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