Anti-encroachment drive begins in capital

Information minister oversees demolition operation in Sector G-12

ISLAMABAD: The federal minister for information, broadcasting and national heritage Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that the government has decided to demolish all the encroachments across the country and after that stern action will be initiated against the encroachers.

Therefore in this regard a massive operation against encroachment in Islamabad has been launched today after due legal process, Chaudhry said adding hopefully it will be completed before the start of Muharramul Harram and second phase will be started after Ashura.

He was talking to the media people at Sector G-12 on Kashmir Highway from where the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started raiding encroachment.

He said that the nationwide drive against illegal encroachment would be expanded to other major cities of the country like Lahore soon. Chaudhry further warned encroachers to clear the land they have occupied illegally; otherwise, strict action will be taken against them.

Moreover all the encroachers will be served legal notices before taking any action against their encroachments, he maintained.

“The government will not bow to any political pressure in this regard and all the laws will be effectively implemented across the country to run it efficiently”, he said.

On the occasion he also announced that the Prime Minister Imran Khan will soon visit Karachi and launch a cleanliness drive along with provincial and local government.

Reaction over social media

The unannounced operation against encroachment started in sectors H-13 and G-12 early morning surprised and created panic among the residents and the passersby. They kept on asking what’s going on and why on social media.

Meanwhile some people expressed their concerns and anger through posting pictures and videos of heavy machines bulldozing marquess and restaurants in the area. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2018.