More illegal buildings pulled down in Peshawar

Anti-encroachment drive

PESHAWAR: The district administration on Saturday conducted a massive operation against encroachments in the provincial capital and demolished shops, markets and houses illegally built on public property in Ramdas and Bhanamari areas of the city.

Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud supervised the operation while ?Additional Deputy Commissioner Irshad Ahmad Sodhar, Assistant Commissioner Altaf Ahmad Sheikh, additional assistant commissioners, Town-1 administration, C&W, police and Frontier Constabulary officials were also present during the operation.

With ?the help of heavy machinery, the administration razed to the ground around 460 buildings and retrieved public property to widen Peshawar-Kohat road.

The police also arrested 11 people for resisting the operation.

Meanwhile, the district administration conducted surprise visits of different markets and arrested 102 shopkeepers for overcharging customers.

On the directives of the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners visited markets and shops in residential areas such as Gulbahar, Nauthia, Dilazak Road, fruit and vegetable markets and checked prices.

Sajid Khan, a spokesman for the district administration, said the deputy commissioner had directed officers to continue surprise visits of markets and shops and ensure check on prices of various food items.