In the public’s interest: Anti-encroachment drive kicks off in DI Khan

Trader community opposes operation, says only aim is harassment.

DI KHAN: The district government in DI Khan has initiated an operation against encroachment in the city.

DI Khan Deputy Commissioner Irfan Mehsud, policemen and workers of the municipal committee began removing illegal encroachment in Topan Walla, Ghass Mandi, Tank Adda, Mis Gra, Chugalla Bazaar and other bazaars in the city using heaving machinery.

While the operation was ongoing, traders came out of their shops and shouted slogans against the government.

Speaking to the media, Mehsud said the operation is in accordance with the law and is against the mafia involved in illegal encroachments. He added that the district government is not working under any political pressure, and that the crackdown would continue till its aim is achieved.

Municipal Committee Staff Union President Qaisar Kamran showed his support for the operation on the occasion.

“The operation is in the public’s interest,” said Kamran. “It is to clean the city and make it beautiful.” Kamran added the public is supporting the operation in DI Khan city.

On the other hand, a meeting of the Anjuman Tajran Sharqi Circular (ATSC) was held by its president Jamil Ahmad. He spoke out against the operation, terming it unjust, unfair and discriminatory.

In a statement issued to the media, the ATSC said the trading community consists of respectable people who pay taxes. It claimed the government’s anti-encroachment operation is only to harass them, and demanded for it to be stopped as it was only causing financial harm.

The union also went on to claim there are several cases where the government is itself involved in encroachment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2014.