Anti-encroachment drive: Judge directs DCO to take action against ‘greasy palm’ officials

Orders removal of encroachments in Rawalpindi by December

RAWALPINDI: The judge of the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench on Thursday directed the city managers to remove all encroachments in four months and take action against the municipal staff for taking a bribe from encroachers.

Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi issued the directives while hearing a contempt plea and in response to claims by a trader that civic agency staffers take the bribe from encroachers.

Justice Lodhi asked DCO Talat Gondal who was present in the court to remove all encroachments by December 23 and file a detailed report.

The judge also asked the Punjab government to give magisterial powers to assistant commissioners unless municipal magistrates were appointed and take stern action against the responsible officials.

The judge also directed the official to spare two hours every day to the public and listen to their complaints and grievances.

Akbar Khan, a leader of local traders, earlier informed the court that the Rawal Town Municipal Administration staff had been taking the bribe from encroachers on a regular basis to allow them to set up stalls and kiosks at Bara Market in Raja Bazaar.

He contended that the encroachments could not be removed from one of the busiest markets of the city unless the enforcement staff stopped taking the bribe and enforce the law across the board.

The trader claimed that he had ample evidence to prove that the municipal staff were actively taking bribes from encroachers in Bara Market.

He said that he had provided the evidence to the Town Municipal Officer (TMO) and the DCO but no action has been taken against the staff involved in taking the bribe.

He also complained that most of the time the DCO and the TMO remain absent from their offices and unavailable for public.

The DCO, executive officers of Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment boards, administrators of Rawal and Potohar towns and a senior official of the Rawalpindi Development Authority submitted their reports regarding the measures they have taken so far against encroachments.

Justice Lodhi appreciated their efforts and directed Chief Traffic Officer Sardar Ghias Gul to take action against illegal parking in the city particularly by car showroom owners on Benazir Bhutto Road.

A contempt of court plea was filed by advocate Anwar Dar stating that the district administration had failed to comply with the May 26 order of the court for removal of encroachments.

More structures razed

Meanwhile, the operation against encroachments continued in different parts of the city on the third consecutive day.

The enforcement staff carried out the anti-encroachment drive in Kohati Bazaar, Ganjmandi and Jamia Masjid and Adiala roads.

RDA spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Irfan said that the building control staff with the assistance of the police took action against unauthorised carts, ramps, grills and boards on Adiala Road and other areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2016.