Drive against encroachments around Empress Market enters second day

A crackdown against encroachers around Saddar’s historical Empress Market entered its second day on Monday when teams of the Anti-Encroachment Cell (AEC) and municipal staffers removed many of the pushcarts that had been brought back to the market in the morning after action on the first day.

Heavy contingents of police and traffic police, besides staffers of the District South deputy commissioner’s office and the AEC, stayed around the market throughout the day and removed pushcarts and other roadside stalls.

Saddar Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Tauqeer Muhammad Naeem told The News that the AEC teams along with heavy contingents of police and KMC staffers had reached the market on Sunday night and cleared the roads.

He said the teams engaged in the anti-encroachment drive faced no resistance during the operation against the encroachers. However, several people put up resistance to make the drive unsuccessful and to avoid arrest.

SP Naeem said hundreds of the pushcarts were removed from the market. “On the completion of the anti-encroachment drive, teams of the KMC and the District South DC office have set up camps in the market to ensure that no pushcart vendor can reinstall his stall in the prohibited area again.”

The operation against encroachments around the Empress Market had earlier been stopped after a man died on May 10. The crackdown had started after a week on Sunday (May 20), and encroachments around the market had been removed.