Pindi anti-encroachment drive mired in controversy

The Rawalpindi district administration's grand anti-encroachment operation has become controversial even before its launch.

Sources said caving into the excessive pressure from the bigwigs of the local business community, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha while issuing a five-point regulation policy allowed the traders to use 50% space of the sidewalks, prompting severe criticism from the general public.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior officer of the district administration, on condition of anonymity, claimed that the traders strongly opposed the anti-encroachment operation in a meeting held by the trade union under the chairmanship of the Rawalpindi commissioner.

According to the officer, during the meeting, it was decided that 50% of the public footpaths would be used by the traders while the remaining 50% would be left free for the general public to walk on.

In the five-point code of conduct issued by the Commissioner's office, Chattha has allowed the traders to use 50% of the footpaths mainly due to the intense pressure of the traders on the district administration.

According to the code of conduct obtained by this scribe from the Commissioner's Office, Chattha and Anjuman-e-Tajran have unanimously prepared the code of conduct, which has been approved by the Rawalpindi commissioner.

According to the code of conduct, anti-encroachment operations will be conducted under the supervision of traders and encroachments will be removed on both sides of the Committee Chowk to Fawara Chowk road whereas on both sides from Raja Bazaar to Dengi Khoi and Main Murree Road 50% of the space on the footpath will be used by traders and the remaining 50% will be used by the public.

Motorcycles and vehicles will be parked in one lane on the sides of all highways in the city whereas the entry of large and loading vehicles will not be allowed after 11.00 am, it said and added that the street hawkers will be able to set up roadside markets in consultation with the traders after the closure of the main bazaar.

The senior district admin officer said that the code of conduct has been prepared in consultation with the traders three days before the launch of the anti-encroachment drive.

He said the grand operation will be supervised by the Rawalpindi commissioner himself while the staff of the Tehsil Municipal Corporation and officials of the city traffic police and district police will participate in the operation.

Meanwhile, the citizens have demanded that the controversial order issued by the commissioner should be immediately withdrawn as it was equivalent to usurping the birthright of pedestrians on the public sidewalks.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2023.