Razed to ground: 25 illegally-built houses, shops along Budhni nullah demolished

Drive carried out on directives of DC Riaz Mehsud

PESHAWAR: At least 25 illegally-built houses and shops, and one gas station were demolished by the district administration near Budhni nullah on Charsadda Road on Wednesday.

“We are carrying out drive against encroachers without any discrimination, proving false rumours that the district administration plays favourites,” Additional DC Osama Warraich told The Express Tribune. Warraich was directed by Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud to take action. “If the district administration can take action against lawmakers then why can’t it initiate a drive against encroachers?”



Warraich added there were 25 structures on both sides of the nullah, of which 19 were on one side of the nullah and six on the other. There were 10 shops that were razed to the ground.

He said the drive against encroachment will be carried out in phases and they will demolish all illegal settlements near the nullah.

With[out] consensus

Answering a query, Warraich said locals were taken into confidence before the drive began. He added a day ago, on Tuesday, a meeting was held at the CM House with locals where it was decided illegal constructions would be demolished with their support.

However, those living near Budhni nullah said the district administration did not inform them well before starting the drive.

“The administration informed locals late at night and started demolishing the houses in the morning on Wednesday,” a local, Ali Taj Khan, told The Express Tribune. He added they will soon take the matter to court.

“We have ownership transfer letters for the properties and their settlements should not have been demolished.” Ali added the administration has told them they would demolish any settlement constructed within a distance of 30 feet from the nullah.

A question of legality

However, District Administration Public Relations Officer Feroz Shah said all the constructions were illegal. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had directed the DC to collect rent from illegal encroachers, but no such action was taken, added Shah.

He added the issue had been in court for the past five years and the drive was planned in light of court directives and decisions. During the recent floods in Budhni nullah, the CM had announced compensation would not be given to those whose houses were situated along the nullah.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2015.