Illegal plazas immune to bulldozers

Due to political pressure, plans to demolish the plazas have been abandoned.

RAWALPINDI: Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Rawalpindi has stopped its anti-encroachment campaign against illegally built plazas.

Officials of TMA confided to The Express Tribune that due to political pressure, plans to demolish the plazas had been abandoned. Attempts to work around the rules and get the plazas ‘legalised’ are now underway, revealed our sources.

“Political interference by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) MNAs and MPAs is making the plazas immune,” claim officials.

Meanwhile, TMA’s anti-encroachment campaign continues unhindered near and around the plazas. Vendors and push-carts have not been given chances to ‘legalise’ their proceedings, they are simply being either torn down or thrown out.

Commercial activities in the illegal multi-storey plazas, however, continue.  Farooq Corporation, Shakil Corporation, Malikabad Shopping Mall, Friends Corporation, Nayab Marriage Hall, Aries Tower and chemist shops are just some of the places that were supposed to be demolished in the operation launched four months ago.

MNA Malik Shakeel Awan (PML-N) said that he was not against the demolition of these illegal plazas. But, he asked, why did TMA not take notice of the plazas when they were being built?

“It is not wise to raze down multi million plazas, instead revenue can be generated by regulating them,” said Awan.

“No member of our party has used political pressure to stop TMA from taking action against the plazas,” he said. “We did however suggest that they legalise the plazas that had already been constructed instead of wasting the investment,” he added.

Town Officer Regulation Malik Tausif said that the machinery and equipment required to take enforcing action were not being provided to the administration. “Despite of our numerous requests, the City Police Officer did not provide us with police force to take action against the big guns,” he complained.

Tehsil Municipal Officer Shehzad Haider said that complete demolition of illegal plazas was not essential. “We want to compel the owners to obey building codes and by-laws by reserving parking lots and abandoning unauthorised floors,” he said. He claimed that TMA would ensure strict action against illegal construction of such buildings in the future.

Another top official of the administration said that majority of the illegal plazas in the city had been built in violation of building codes and by-laws.

During its anti-encroachment drive, the provincial government razed several illegally-constructed commercial plazas in Lahore and later the campaign was extended to other cities, including Rawalpindi. The previous Rawal Town Administrator Arshad Waraich had sealed 12 multi-storey plazas and other commercial buildings that had violated approved building plans by constructing floors and basements in excess of prescribed limits.

After the buildings were sealed, investors were warned not to hire shops in the plazas.

After sealing, investors were told not to hire shops in these plazas. Subsequently Waraich was served a notification that his rank had been changed from Rawal Town Administrator to Officer on Special Duty. This effectively relieved him of the responsibility to seal and prosecute these illegal plazas.

The sealed buildings were located in Raja Bazaar, Barha Market, Benazir Road, Iqbal Road, Liaqat Road, Saidpur Road, City Saddar Road and Mochi Bazaar.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2010.