The gate divide

Housing society barriers turning public roads into no-go areas

LAHORE: It is no secret that many Pakistanis place little faith in the law enforcers supposed to protect them. In many of the country’s metropolises, however, this lack of faith has translated into an obstruction of citizens’ right to move freely.

In Lahore, like other major Pakistani cities, residents of various housing societies have erected illegal gates around the residential areas under the pretext of security, forcing others to take several kilometre-long detours to reach their destinations.

Senior Lahore Development Authority (LDA) officials have failed to remove such structures from residential colonies. The police also seem to turn a blind on the assumption that the barriers play a role in reducing crime.

According to provincial housing minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, blocking or placing a barrier at the entry or exit of any housing scheme is illegal under the LDA rules.

“LDA ensures action on any written complaint against such barriers,” he says. The minister adds that an LDA team, which recently went to demolish an illegal gate in a housing scheme, faced stiff resistance from the locals. Meanwhile, the structures erected by housing society residents have converted public roads into no-go areas.



The keys for the locks placed on the gates are in the hands of the management unions of the society or residents. According to LDA rules and the Pakistan Penal Code, placing a barrier on any public passage is a punishable criminal offense.

Currently, LDA-administered housing societies, such as Allama Iqbal Town, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Sabzazar, Samanabad, Rivas Garden, Faisal Town, Johar Town and Township, have several illegal gates in many neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, other public and private housing societies are also infested with these barriers at several points.

Residents of the societies maintain they have installed the gates on a self-help basis as they are not confident in the police’s crime-fighting capabilities. Inhabitants of societies also admit that one of the reasons to place the barriers is to prevent the commute of non-residents on “their” roads and streets.

However, common commuters complain that the gates pose a nuisance and are turning residential societies into no-go areas. Locals say this measure is not only unconstitutional, but also adds to traffic woes.

The Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf launched an extensive operation against encroachments after taking charge of the government, but held back from demolishing such gates, commuters bemoan.

According to sources, LDA frequently receives complaints against illegal gates but its officials stay put. The authority’s inaction also comes in the wake of a Lahore High Court order which declared the installing of such gates as barriers as illegal.

The most number of gates stand in Allama Iqbal and Johar towns. Even though LDA staff remains highly active and functional in these societies, the gates stand tall.

Legal experts say that placing barriers and preventing the commute of commoners is a punishable offence under sections 290 and 291 of the PPC. The punishment for such an offense includes a fine and imprisonment.

On the other hand, LDA rules also prohibit the installation of these gates. According to social workers, crime in Lahore has risen in the recent past. They particularly point to increasing street crime and say such incidents have instilled a sense of insecurity.

The system of police patrolling has also proved ineffective due to a lack of resources, observers say. Consequently, it has become difficult for the force to monitor every road or street.

At times, residents or administrations of these societies build barriers to restrict the volume of traffic which is not native to the area.  The barriers, residents say, also cut down noise and allow their children to play freely on the roads. In addition, the blockades ensure adequate parking space for residents.

Housing minister Mehmoodur Rasheed assures that authorities will soon initiate a crackdown against the structures. Meanwhile, Lahore police spokesman Syed Mubasshir Hussain tells The Express Tribune that an effective system police patrolling is in place throughout the city.

“Officials of the Dolphin Force and Police Response Unit regularly patrol all areas. However, taking action against illegal gates is the responsibility of the government departments concerned,” he adds.

At the same time, he continues that since preventing the entry or exit to any public road is a criminal offense, the police are ordered to take action against on any written complaint.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2019.