Massive demolition drive rocks Haripur

Operation has triggered distress among traders, disrupted businesses & power supplies

HARIPUR:

Haripur is witnessing what is being described as the largest anti-encroachment operation in its history since the creation of Pakistan, with a sweeping demolition drive continuing across the city's markets for the seventh consecutive day. While the district administration claims to have reclaimed valuable public land worth millions of rupees, the operation has left traders distressed, businesses disrupted and residents facing severe hardships.

The demolition drive has also taken a tragic turn, as a barber in Mochi Bazaar reportedly died of a heart attack after being unable to bear the shock of seeing his shop demolished. Meanwhile, a citizen who had purchased a shop for Rs30 million just a month ago is reportedly suffering severe mental distress, while properties and land worth millions of rupees belonging to other residents have also been affected.

The situation has been further aggravated by prolonged electricity outages, with residents reportedly receiving only two hours of power in every 24-hour period for the past week. Large parts of the city have been reduced to scenes of rubble, while businesses have suffered heavy losses and residents remain distressed.

According to sources, the district administration has been conducting the operation without discrimination across Haripur for the past seven days. On the first day, resistance to the drive led to the arrest of Main Bazaar All Traders Association President Haji Saboor Qureshi and trader leader Malik Tahir Wajahat, who were shifted to the City Police Station before being released the following day.