Clearing pathways: 70 kiosks, numerous sheds removed in Khanpur

HARIPUR: Amid resistance and protests by shopkeepers, the authorities on Thursday demolished over 70 kiosks, numerous sheds and several cemented extensions of shops in Khanpur.

Headed by Additional Assistant Commissioner Irshad Khan the anti-encroachment squads of the tehsil municipal administration, district council, and National Highway Authority cleared the GT, Hospital, and Post Office roads of both temporary and cemented encroachments. The encroachments were marked a couple of months back and the illegal occupants were served notices for voluntary removal of kiosks, shops, cemented extensions and sheds. Some of them opted for voluntary demolition, but the majority refused and kept on occupying government land, narrowing roads and pathways in the process.

During the operation, some of the shopkeepers protested and attempted to put up resistance.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2016.