Encroachment drive by MCR faces resistance from encroachers

Rawalpindi:The enforcement department of Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) has started a crackdown on the encroachment mafia. The enforcement department led by Town Officer (Regulation) Imran Ali not only removed hundreds of encroachers from city areas but dozens of shops, sheds, and other encroachments also demolished here on Thursday.

The enforcement department of Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) faced strong resistance from the encroachment mafia. 

Some encroachers pelted stones at government officers but the MCR enforcement department continued the operation. The MCR enforcement teams carried out operations here at Trunk Bazaar, Lal Haveli Road, Iqbal Road, Liaquat Road, Fawara Chowk, Barra Bazaar, Talwarran Bazaar, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, and Old Sabzi Mandi.

Town Officer (Regulation) Imran Ali told ‘The News’ that they have started an operation against the encroachment mafia in all city areas. “I have directed enforcement teams to clean this city within a week,” he warned. The operation will continue 24 hours (day and night) to open all roads for smooth flow of traffic, he said. My enforcement teams are facing threats and warnings from the encroachment mafia but we will continue operation without any fear, he assured.

He said all the shopkeepers had been issued notices before the anti-encroachment operation. He said no one would be spared and cases would also be registered against the encroachers. He also said that they were doing operations in phases. The operation will continue regularly in all city areas, he said. Town Officer (Regulation) has also warned illegal parking owners to remove illegal parking in city areas immediately otherwise they will face strict action.

The Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) enforcement teams through loudspeakers were warning the encroachment mafia to remove all kinds of encroachments from city areas otherwise strict action would be taken against them.

On the other hand, the people belonging to different walks of life who witnessed the anti-encroachment operation launched by MCR have strongly appreciated this step. They have appealed to the higher authorities to clean the city from encroachment mafia. Muhammad Shabbir, a contractor said that the traders and shopkeepers had occupied almost every inch of roads by placing stalls and other stuff causing problems for commuters and pedestrians. He said that MCR took the right step by removing encroachments from city areas.

“Raja Bazaar is famous for worst traffic jams due to massive encroachments,” said Riaz Ahmed, a citizen. The higher authorities should form a policy for the encroachment mafia, if the concerned authorities do not take this issue seriously, it will create an unrest situation all around, he warned.