Illegal structures removed in massive anti-encroachment drive

PESHAWAR: The district administration Peshawar on Thursday demolished 780 structures, including shops, markets and houses reportedly built illegally at the Customs Chowk on the Bara Road and Canal Road in the Afghan Colony.

Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud had earlier held meetings with the local people and directed them to remove houses, shops and markets which they had built on the public property.

Sajid Khan, a spokesman for the Peshawar district administration, said the deputy commissioner had issued notices to the owners to peacefully remove the illegal structures.

He said the deputy commissioner ordered operation against encroachments after repeated refusals by the people.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Irshad Ahmad Sodhar and assistant commissioners, Sohail Aziz and Imran, Station House Officer of Pishtakhara Police Station Omar Khan supervised the operation on the Bara Road.

With the help of heavy machinery, the district administration removed shops and markets. The road was closed for traffic during the operation.

Irshad Ahmad Sodhar said the people had appreciated the action against encroachments on the Kohat Road where influential land grabbers had built shops and markets on the public property and rented out the same to others from where they were earning heavy amounts.

Assistant commissioners Abdul Nabi and ?Bashir Ahmad supervised the operation in the Afghan Colony where senior officials of the Irrigation Department were also present.

The district administration using heavy machinery demolished 220 buildings, comprising shops, markets and houses and retrieved the public property.

The administration had deployed a large number of police for maintaining order during the operation.

The operation was conducted peacefully and the administration didn’t face any resistance.

Sajid Khan said other residents of the area welcomed the district administration for removing illegal structures and widening the roads and streets.