Anti-encroachment operation: SP-mayor tussle heats up over drive

Civil Lines superintendent says MCL cannot take removal action

LAHORE: The anti-encroachment operation conducted on the orders of Mayor Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, in consultation with the Deputy Commissioner’s office, is illegal, says Civil Lines Superintendent of Police Ali Raza.

He has vowed to introduce his own standard operating procedure for the MCL to follow before the latter conducts such operations. Punjab Chief Minister recently ordered a crackdown against encroachments, which according to the Local Government Act, fell under the jurisdiction of MCL.  After receiving a complaint, the corporation gets the land record information from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, which is in charge of the land revenue record, before determining the status of a property.

After determining an encroachment, notices are displayed in the area, ordering the illegal land occupants to approach the mayor’s office to prove ownership. If valid property documents are not produced before the mayor or officer concerned, a request is forwarded to the concerned police SP, DSP or SHO for further action.



The entire procedure of completing a file requires several weeks of tedious and painstaking work and effort, both on the end of MCL and the complainant, observers say. There were reports that the SP, after receiving a request for action, insisted on holding an independent inquiry over encroachments on the biggest electronic market of Lahore. Despite determining the status, MCL claimed the SP refused to corporation.

Muhammad Zubair, a local resident, said the police station continued to support the encroachers by allowing them to construct a wall on the road which was recently cleared by MCL. He added all calls made by locals were ignored due to pressure from a local MPA.

Senior MCL official added that police, instead of helping MCL workers, arrested daily wagers clearing the road. Other operations held in the area of the Civil Lines Division were also meeting the same fate, the officials added. Civil Lines SP Ali Raza termed the action of MCL to remove the encroachments on its own as illegal.  He said that he received calls from his seniors asking about the mayor’s operation. He said that there were people who should have been taken onboard before proceeding further.

When asked about the legalities of the matter, he replied MCL could not proceed without the police. He was reminded about the constant requests by the metropolitan corporation, but said this was not enough for the corporation to take matters into their own hands.



He added MCL has conducted two operations, one in Abid Market and other in Shalimar Area, both of which were illegal. He stated if the metropolitan authority continued with operations in the same stead, its officials could be booked at one of the police stations under his control. The SP said he will introduce his own SOPs for the mayor and others to follow for encroachment drives.

A senior official of the MCL said that this was high handedness on the part of the SP who wanted to assert his dominance over the DC and Lahore mayor. He added police had finally broken free from the shackles of oversight and were now the kings of their own jungle. He said that civil administration needed to bring an oversight to force them to follow the law.  The official alleged said cops only follow the instructions to a handful of MPAs and ministers.  The officer concluded police had no authority over the MCL and cannot hold an independent inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2017.