Razed to the ground: Three-storey building demolished during encroachment drive

AAC had served notices to illegal occupant, received no response

HARIPUR: A three-storey building was demolished during an encroachment drive in Shah Muhammad village, Haripur on Saturday.

The district administration decided to raze the building to the ground because it was illegally constructed on land owned by the education department. An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune on Saturday Additional Assistant Commissioner Irshad Khan had received complaints regarding encroachment on government land.

According to the official, Zahoor Shah, a resident of Shah Muhammad village, had illegally occupied the land for a long time.

“After examining the revenue records and site verification certificate, it was proved that the illegal occupant had constructed a three-storey building,” he said. “The building has three shops on the ground floor.”

As per the official, the land was earmarked for the construction of a government primary school for boys in the village.

Following verification, Irshad served a notice to the occupant. Shah was given a deadline for voluntary demolition of the building. However, he failed to respond to the notice.

As a result, officials of education department, staff of the Tehsil Municipal Administration and the police demolished the building.

The official also ensured that the land was reclaimed and handed over to the education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2016.