Facing resistance: Anti-encroachment drive turns violent in Saddar
Armed men open fire at KMC workers and police from rooftops.
KMCs workers removing encroachment from Empress Market where armed men opened fire at them. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The anti-encroachment drive in the city turned violent on its 12th day as a few armed groups clashed with the government officials.
According to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) anti-encroachment cell director, Mazhar Khan, the drive has wiped out encroachments from Liaquatabad, Hussianabad, Samanabad, MA Jinnah Road, Khalid bin Waleed Road, Tariq Road, Vita Chowrangi, PIB Colony, Hawkes’ Bay Truck Stand, Burnes Road and Empress Market in the last 12 days.
“During the crackdown at Empress Market, we faced massive resistance, as armed men opened fire at the KMC workers and the police from rooftops,” he said. Khan claimed, however, that these areas have been cleared of all encroachments and they have confiscated hundreds of makeshifts stalls and other encroachments during the overnight operation.
In the next phase, the operation will be launched in the old city areas, including Jodia Bazaar, Ranchore Line and Juna Market. “These reckless encroachments in some of the busiest places of the city not only disrupt the flow of traffic but also add to the law and order situation through the millions of rupees which are given as bribe to multiple crime groups,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune. “These groups, backed by different political parties, add to the misery of residents, businessman and, to some extent, the passers-by. The massive resistance during the operation at Saddar proves how the area has been taken hostage by the armed men.”
‘All talk’
Residents, however, have termed the tall claims by the KMC of “successfully removing encroachments” as hogwash. “It is just a cosmetic operation as corrupt officials also receive million of rupees in bribes from the owners of makeshift stalls,” claimed Sallahuddin, a resident of Samanabad.
Karachi Tajir Ittihad President Atiq Mir, while appreciating the drive, contended that in Saddar alone, at least Rs80 million goes into the pockets of traffic police officials, KMC departments, crime groups and the areas’ police. In Mir’s opinion, the KMC should first clear its own department of corrupt officials, saying, “There is no point if after one or two campaigns, these officials allow people to build encroachments again. The drive should continue till all footpaths and pavements are free of encroachments.”
Old habits die hard
Earlier, the anti-encroachment cell took action against the encroachments alongside the Khalid Bin Walid road, Tariq Road, Fatima Jinnah road and new MA Jinnah road, during which all encroachments from the main roads and pavement were removed.
A resident of the Khalid Bin Walid road said that it was just a one-day drive in which the KMC’s staff directed the car’s showroom owner to remove the parked vehicles from the main road. The next day, however, the vehicles were again at the same road.
“If someone pays a visit to the Khalid Bin Walid road, they’ll see that the showroom owners have again started to park their vehicles on the same spot as they give bribes in the form of millions of rupees to the KMC’s charged parking department as well as the anti-encroachment cell,” he told The Express Tribune. “If it wants to be successful, the KMC department should chalk out a comprehensive strategy to stop the re-establishment of the encroachments after the completion of their drive.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2014.
The anti-encroachment drive in the city turned violent on its 12th day as a few armed groups clashed with the government officials.
According to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) anti-encroachment cell director, Mazhar Khan, the drive has wiped out encroachments from Liaquatabad, Hussianabad, Samanabad, MA Jinnah Road, Khalid bin Waleed Road, Tariq Road, Vita Chowrangi, PIB Colony, Hawkes’ Bay Truck Stand, Burnes Road and Empress Market in the last 12 days.
“During the crackdown at Empress Market, we faced massive resistance, as armed men opened fire at the KMC workers and the police from rooftops,” he said. Khan claimed, however, that these areas have been cleared of all encroachments and they have confiscated hundreds of makeshifts stalls and other encroachments during the overnight operation.
In the next phase, the operation will be launched in the old city areas, including Jodia Bazaar, Ranchore Line and Juna Market. “These reckless encroachments in some of the busiest places of the city not only disrupt the flow of traffic but also add to the law and order situation through the millions of rupees which are given as bribe to multiple crime groups,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune. “These groups, backed by different political parties, add to the misery of residents, businessman and, to some extent, the passers-by. The massive resistance during the operation at Saddar proves how the area has been taken hostage by the armed men.”
‘All talk’
Residents, however, have termed the tall claims by the KMC of “successfully removing encroachments” as hogwash. “It is just a cosmetic operation as corrupt officials also receive million of rupees in bribes from the owners of makeshift stalls,” claimed Sallahuddin, a resident of Samanabad.
Karachi Tajir Ittihad President Atiq Mir, while appreciating the drive, contended that in Saddar alone, at least Rs80 million goes into the pockets of traffic police officials, KMC departments, crime groups and the areas’ police. In Mir’s opinion, the KMC should first clear its own department of corrupt officials, saying, “There is no point if after one or two campaigns, these officials allow people to build encroachments again. The drive should continue till all footpaths and pavements are free of encroachments.”
Old habits die hard
Earlier, the anti-encroachment cell took action against the encroachments alongside the Khalid Bin Walid road, Tariq Road, Fatima Jinnah road and new MA Jinnah road, during which all encroachments from the main roads and pavement were removed.
A resident of the Khalid Bin Walid road said that it was just a one-day drive in which the KMC’s staff directed the car’s showroom owner to remove the parked vehicles from the main road. The next day, however, the vehicles were again at the same road.
“If someone pays a visit to the Khalid Bin Walid road, they’ll see that the showroom owners have again started to park their vehicles on the same spot as they give bribes in the form of millions of rupees to the KMC’s charged parking department as well as the anti-encroachment cell,” he told The Express Tribune. “If it wants to be successful, the KMC department should chalk out a comprehensive strategy to stop the re-establishment of the encroachments after the completion of their drive.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2014.