Commercial activities: Locals voice concern over security
PHC’s order to shift plazas from vicinity falls on deaf ears
Town councillor Ayesha Bano and TRC General Secretary Majeed Khan speaking at a press conference in Town Ladies Club. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
The University Town Residents Committee (TRC) has expressed dissatisfaction over security arrangements in the locality.
This was said by town councillor Ayesha Bano and TRC General Secretary Majeed Khan at a press conference in Town Ladies Club on Thursday. Ayesha Bano raised her concerns over the precarious security environment in University Town, saying the residential area is occupied by over 300 unregistered Afghan nationals who are considered a serious threat to the security of residents.
According to the town councillor, University Town is considered a posh area where international aid agencies like UNHCR, UN, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and many others have opened their offices. “The commercial plazas and private educational institutions where over 35,000 students are studying have disturbed the routine life of residents,” she said.
Ayesha Bano said offices of a large number of NGOs have opened in University Town and CCTV cameras of all offices in the vicinity were a serious threat to the privacy of residents. “These cameras disturb privacy of the homes located in the town,” she said.
Bypassing the law
The town councillor recalled a Peshawar High Court order where a verdict was given to shift the commercial building from the residential area of University Town.
She said the government has yet to hear the cries of residents. According to Ayesha Bano, the l1ocal government ministry has also formulated a committee and delegated the task of implementing the high court’s orders to it which have yet to be done.
Speaking on the occasion, TRC President Khalid Aziz expressed concern over the task given by the government to the committee to check if any areas could be reserved for commercial purposes.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2016.
The University Town Residents Committee (TRC) has expressed dissatisfaction over security arrangements in the locality.
This was said by town councillor Ayesha Bano and TRC General Secretary Majeed Khan at a press conference in Town Ladies Club on Thursday. Ayesha Bano raised her concerns over the precarious security environment in University Town, saying the residential area is occupied by over 300 unregistered Afghan nationals who are considered a serious threat to the security of residents.
According to the town councillor, University Town is considered a posh area where international aid agencies like UNHCR, UN, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and many others have opened their offices. “The commercial plazas and private educational institutions where over 35,000 students are studying have disturbed the routine life of residents,” she said.
Ayesha Bano said offices of a large number of NGOs have opened in University Town and CCTV cameras of all offices in the vicinity were a serious threat to the privacy of residents. “These cameras disturb privacy of the homes located in the town,” she said.
Bypassing the law
The town councillor recalled a Peshawar High Court order where a verdict was given to shift the commercial building from the residential area of University Town.
She said the government has yet to hear the cries of residents. According to Ayesha Bano, the l1ocal government ministry has also formulated a committee and delegated the task of implementing the high court’s orders to it which have yet to be done.
Speaking on the occasion, TRC President Khalid Aziz expressed concern over the task given by the government to the committee to check if any areas could be reserved for commercial purposes.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2016.