Reclaiming the clock tower: At least 13 shops razed to the ground

PESHAWAR:

The district administration demolished 13 shops during an anti-encroachment drive in the provincial capital Saturday night.

District Municipal Administrator Syed Zafar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune action is being undertaken on the directives of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. Shah said shops surrounding Ghanta Ghar were demolished as part of efforts to restore the historic clock tower.

Cheaper by the dozen

The municipal administrator said the clock tower will be refurbished and restored to its original state.



He added the shops at Ghanta Ghar were allocated against a rent of Rs2 per month in 1955 and currently the shopkeepers pay Rs740 a month to the district administration. “The traders will be relocated in Peepal Mandi and Ganna Mandi,” Shah added.

Notices were served to over 400 shopkeepers across the city, asking them to voluntarily vacate illegally-occupied land before February 20. Once the deadline passed, the bulldozer was officially given the green signal.

As the campaign is in full swing, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Riaz Mehsud has cancelled weekly holidays of Assistant Commissioner Mumtaz Ahmad, relevant additional assistant commissioners and other officials.

According to a notification issued on Friday, the decision has been taken so the drive meets its intended targets soon. The grand operation will continue under the supervision of the DC until the entire provincial capital is cleared of all encroachments, stated the notification.

Debris of enchroached shops. PHOTOS: BASEER QALANDAR/EXPRESS

Mehsud had stated all those affected by the encroachment drive will be provided with alternative space in other areas and their losses will be reimbursed. A group of traders met the DC and lauded his initiative.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail Ahmed Warraich earlier conducted an operation against encroachment in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Misgaran Bazaar and Ibrishamgaran Bazaar on Thursday night.

In January, three people were killed at the foot of the clock tower as a bulldozer reversed and ran them over during a clean-up drive.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2015.