The PTI government is committed to removing all encroachments and will support police action, says PTI MPA. PHOTO: FILE/FAZAL KHALIQ
An anti-encroachment drive in Shabqadar Bazaar, Charsadda has pitted the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against each other.
On Wednesday, leaders from both parties held separate gatherings and criticised the other side. While QWP blames PTI for hurting the livelihood of streets vendors by ordering action against them the PTI accuses QWP of inciting vendors into vandalising PTI billboards.
On Tuesday evening, the police launched an operation in Shabqadar Bazaar against pushcart vendors to remove the carts from Shabqadar-Mohmand Road. Several sellers were also taken into custody which enraged the daily earners.
Following the police operation, hundreds of labourers, led by QWP leaders Gul Yousaf and Shakir Khan, gathered at the Bacha Khan Chowk in the market and chanted slogans against the police and Muhammad Arif, PTI’s MPA from Shabqadar. The protest which went on for nearly two hours and disrupted traffic in the area.
Addressing the protest, QWP leaders accused the PTI-led government of being an “enemy of daily-wage earners”. They claimed the police was carrying out the operation on the behest of the local PTI MPA and leaders.
The pushcart vendors have no alternate employment and removing their only source of income would starve their families, they argued.
However, the protest took a violent turn when the angry vendors began throwing stones and vegetables at the police, PTI activists and at cars parked nearby. It was reported the mob also burnt PTI billboards.
To tackle the situation, the police called in the Frontier Constabulary. The protesters only dispersed after baton charging and aerial firing.
According to Shabqadar SHO Naseem Hayat, four vendors were arrested and FIR was registered against 14 protesters and some QWP leaders for interfering in police work.
The response
On Wednesday morning, PTI workers, led by former provincial president Abdul Akbar Khan and MPA Muhammad Arif, held a two-hour-long demonstration at the chowk against the vandalism of PTI billboards.
The PTI leaders accused QWP leaders of being “thugs” and asked them to refrain from doing such things or PTI would respond in a similar manner.
Abdul Akbar supported the police operation and said the protesters’ actions were unacceptable.
PTI is the largest political force in Charsadda and will not allow anyone to interfere in their work, said MPA Muhammad Arif. “Shabqadar Bazaar is ‘owned’ by these vendors – when the police took action against them they protested violently.”
The PTI government is committed to removing all encroachments and will support police action, added the MPA.
Meanwhile, QWP Shabqadar’s organising committee also held a meeting, headed by former MPA Haji Dilawar Khan Mohmand, and condemned PTI as well as the police action against poor vendors in
the bazaar.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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QWP should understand PTI is the govt of change. It can't compromise on rules. Well done Khattak and company.
PTI taking livelihood of poor labourers
It is a matter of real patience that PTI is showing. Burning down PTI billboards and stoning. If this was done in Karachi against MQM. The reaction would have been very extreme. People of Karachi know what i mean!
Poor QPW, lost ministries, now doesn't know what do. They should appreciate good things done not creating hurdles. If QPW was honest with people they wouldn't use them for their personal gains.
Anti-encroachment drive is a good step by PTI and should be appreciated.