Encroachment blues: Crackdown against Saddar vendors today

AEC arrests a dozen men associated with different political groups for offering vending spots against cash.

KARACHI:

Friday night’s incident at Jinnah hospital - the largest state-run hospital in Karachi - has ruffled some feathers in the administrative hierarchy. To take effective security measures, the KMC decided on Sunday to begin a crackdown against encroachments. The operation is expected today (Monday).

The Anti-Encroachment Cell has already arrested a dozen men associated with different political groups for offering vending spots against cash.

In the past 18 months, three anti-encroachment drives were launched but the offenders were released by courts. “Police, traffic police, municipal staff and political activists; everyone is involved,” says Mustafa Jamal Qazi, the Karachi South deputy commissioner.

The KMC even plans to recommend setting up two separate police stations for Jinnah and Civil hospitals to deal exclusively with hospital-related cases. “Application will be filed with the Sindh home department on Monday (today) to notify the police stations with separate SHO,” said Qazi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2012.