PTI lawmakers storm PDA office to stop anti-encroachment drive

PESHAWAR: The employees of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) on Thursday blocked the road and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route in Hayatabad to register protest after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) two lawmakers allegedly stormed the office of the civic agency with supporters and misbehaved with the senior officials to pressure them to stop the anti-encroachment drive.

The sources said the PDA recently launched an operation on the busy Ring Road to remove encroachments as the illegal structures were found impeding the free flow of traffic.

The operation was launched on the directives of the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur who had taken notice of the encroachments after rising public complaints.

The sources said Member National Assembly Asif Khan and Member Provincial Assembly Fazal Elahi tried to stop the anti-encroachment operation on the Ring Road as the area fell in the constituencies where both PTI were elected in the February 8 general election.

After failing to stop the operation, both MNA lawmakers rushed to the PDA office in Hayatabad and asked the officials to stop the operation as they would take up the issue with the chief minister.

The PDA officials reminded both the PTI legislators that the anti-encroachment operation was launched on the orders of the chief minister. However, the MNA and MPA allegedly used foul language against the Director Vigilance and other officials in the PDA offices and misbehaved with them.

The PTI legislators’ attitude enraged the employees who came out of the PDA office and blocked the road next to the PDA building and the nearby BRT route by parking a crane there. They were led by the union president Muhammad Masoud Siddiqui.

The protest disrupted the BRT service between Tatara Park and PDA station which made the commuters suffer.

The PDA employees said they would continue the protest against MNA Asif Khan and MPA Fazal Elahi till both of them tendered an apology to the senior officials for their hooliganism and insulting attitude.

They warned of blocking the Ring Road on Friday if the PTI legislators did not apologize for their actions.

The PDA spokesman said that the director general of the civic body took the action against encroachment on the Ring Road under the orders of the chief minister.

He said the operation would continue as that was intended to demolish illegal constructions and pave the way for smooth traffic and restore the beauty of the provincial capital.

The BRT spokesman confirmed that the service remained suspended at certain points in Hayatabad due to the protest but said it remained operational elsewhere.