Regulation: Edhi emergency post on The Mall demolished
After workers protest, DCO’s office says the post will be rebuilt.
After workers protest, DCO’s office says the post will be rebuilt. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Dozens of Edhi Foundation workers protested against the demolition of an Edhi emergency post on the Mall by the city government on Saturday.
Edhi Spokesman Muhammad Faisal told newsmen that a town officer from Data Ganj Bakhsh had showed up at the post at around 2am and asked the workers to shift the rescue post elsewhere.
The spokesman said the town officer had claimed that the post had been constructed illegally.
He claimed that the post was built in violation of the law.
The spokesman said the officer, Muhammad Shehzad, returned an hour later with a team that proceeded to demolish the rescue post.
“The post had been operational since 1994,” the spokesman said. “It was built with the government’s approval.”
He said the post, located on a footpath outside Haji Ameer Din building had a clerk and two ambulance drivers.
Faisal said the records kept at the rescue post were lost in the demolition.
Tariq Zaman, staff officer to the DCO, said the city government had signed an agreement with Edhi officials a month ago.
He said they had agreed to the demolition.
He said the rescue post would be rebuilt with fibre glass.
The Edhi spokesman denied the claim.
“If the city government had conveyed their plans to us, we would not have protested against the demolition,” he said.
He added that the DCO had assured Edhi workers that the post would be rebuilt.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.
Dozens of Edhi Foundation workers protested against the demolition of an Edhi emergency post on the Mall by the city government on Saturday.
Edhi Spokesman Muhammad Faisal told newsmen that a town officer from Data Ganj Bakhsh had showed up at the post at around 2am and asked the workers to shift the rescue post elsewhere.
The spokesman said the town officer had claimed that the post had been constructed illegally.
He claimed that the post was built in violation of the law.
The spokesman said the officer, Muhammad Shehzad, returned an hour later with a team that proceeded to demolish the rescue post.
“The post had been operational since 1994,” the spokesman said. “It was built with the government’s approval.”
He said the post, located on a footpath outside Haji Ameer Din building had a clerk and two ambulance drivers.
Faisal said the records kept at the rescue post were lost in the demolition.
Tariq Zaman, staff officer to the DCO, said the city government had signed an agreement with Edhi officials a month ago.
He said they had agreed to the demolition.
He said the rescue post would be rebuilt with fibre glass.
The Edhi spokesman denied the claim.
“If the city government had conveyed their plans to us, we would not have protested against the demolition,” he said.
He added that the DCO had assured Edhi workers that the post would be rebuilt.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.