Sealing a store
Lahore's Al-Fatah store was sealed by the LDA on January 13 on charges of violating various building laws.
Lahore shoppers have been left in the lurch. One of their favorite shopping hangouts, the giant Al-Fatah store in Liberty Market, home to crockery, clothing, toys, cosmetics and all kinds of luxury food items was sealed by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on January 13, on charges of violating various building laws. The sudden closure prompted angry protests by other traders in the market as they stormed the area around the shop, shouting slogans against the provincial government. Traders in the area had already been displeased for some time anyway over measures taken by the PML-N government to build a new parking plaza in the vicinity — a move many believe is aimed at earning profits rather than facilitating citizens in Lahore.
The Al-Fatah case appears to be quite obviously politically motivated. The LDA has sighted a plethora of building rules which have been violated, including the construction of an illegal basement and two additional stories. Such action to ensure regulations are adhered to would have been admirable had there not been so inconsistency in their application. The fact is that hundreds of other shops and plazas have violated rules in a similar manner across the city. They have been left untouched and are able to continue their business. In some cases the violations are far more evident than in the case of the said store.
It cannot be an accident that the owner of the store had joined the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf just three days ago. He believes, like many others, that he is being punished for this. Such measures can only add to the lack of respect and faith in the government and indeed bolster the fortunes of the very party provincial leaders are targeting. It also demonstrates the PML-N government’s degree of panic over the rise of the PTI. The measure taken is petty and transparent in terms of bias. Owners of the store claim no notices had been served in advance, warning them of potential action. The action has infuriated the trading community further and as such weakened the Punjab government in the eyes of people.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2012.
The Al-Fatah case appears to be quite obviously politically motivated. The LDA has sighted a plethora of building rules which have been violated, including the construction of an illegal basement and two additional stories. Such action to ensure regulations are adhered to would have been admirable had there not been so inconsistency in their application. The fact is that hundreds of other shops and plazas have violated rules in a similar manner across the city. They have been left untouched and are able to continue their business. In some cases the violations are far more evident than in the case of the said store.
It cannot be an accident that the owner of the store had joined the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf just three days ago. He believes, like many others, that he is being punished for this. Such measures can only add to the lack of respect and faith in the government and indeed bolster the fortunes of the very party provincial leaders are targeting. It also demonstrates the PML-N government’s degree of panic over the rise of the PTI. The measure taken is petty and transparent in terms of bias. Owners of the store claim no notices had been served in advance, warning them of potential action. The action has infuriated the trading community further and as such weakened the Punjab government in the eyes of people.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2012.