No End To Encroachments In City Markets Despite LHC Orders

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Aug, 2018 ) :The District administration and City Traffic Police have failed to resolve the traffic issues of Rawalpindi city despite the orders from Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench for removal of encroachments and eradication of illegal parking from the city to ensure smooth flow of traffic on city roads.

Due to the encroachments and illegal car parking in every nook and corner of the town particularly main commercial areas, the traffic of the city has became a nightmare for the motorists as the traffic jam in various parts of the city is a routine matter.

Despite orders of the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench and the city's visit of Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi of LHC, encroachments could not be removed as encrochers still rule almost all markets of the town.

Justice Ibadur Rehman during his surprise visit conducted on Feb 3 this year to check anti-encrochment operations had directed the administration to clear all encroachments from city markets and take action in accordance with the law against encroachers to provide relief to the citizens, but, the situation could not be changed and encroachments are still there.

He had directed the authorities to accelerate operation to remove encroachment from commercial areas and to clear roads and streets for vehicular movement and pedestrians.

The justice had also directed the City Traffic Officer to not allow public service Suzuki drivers to park their vehicles in four lanes in Bara bazaar, adding, "Only two lines should be allowed in the bazaar." The Justice also instructed the traffic police to clear the Circular Road and ban illegal parking of motorcycles on roads and footpaths. But, the authorities concerned miserably failed to achieve the targets and could not bring a visible change particularly in commercial hubs of the town.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier, LHC, Rawalpindi Bench, Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi had also ordered the city district government high-ups in Aug 2016 to implement court's orders regarding removal of encroachments from main roads and markets.

The court had expressed annoyance over non-implementation of the orders regarding removal of encroachments from Cantt areas, Rawal and Potohar Towns, cleaning of nullahs and removal of unauthorised speed breakers on the city roads.

The citizens talking to APP said that despite the court orders, the encroachments are still visible in city and cantonment areas particularly thickly populated localities and congested roads.

They said that encroachments , illegal parking, unauthorised speed breakers and large cat-eyes on major roads including city and cantonment areas are creating problems for the citizens and the authorities concerned are paying no attention towards the issues.

Taking action, the LHC Rawalpindi Bench in May 2016 through a detailed order had directed the city managers to clear all markets and roads from encroachments and clean the nullahs.

One can visit the city markets to observe the ground situation and performance of anti-encroachment staff and the authorities concerned.

The claims made by the civic authorities regarding removal of encroachments from the city and cantonment areas have proved baseless because the customers visiting different markets in the city face problems to park their vehicles.

The encroachers have occupied footpaths creating traffic mess on major roads causing problems for the motorists as well as shoppers in different markets of the city and cantonment. The encroachers say that they have been paying 'monthlies' to the inspectors hence no body could remove their kiosks. "We are voters of the elected candidates and in case authorities tried to remove our stalls we would approach our elected members," they said.

The encroachers have occupied roads, footpaths and open spaces in Bara Market, Namak Mandi, Narnkari Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, Trunk Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Commercial Market, Saidpur Road, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Asghar Mall Road, Ganjmandi Road, Dhoke Mangtal Road and Bagh Sardaran in the city and Tench Bhatta, Kamalabad, Dhoke Syedan, Lalkurti, Sher Zaman Colony, Chur Chowk Road, Chungi No 22, Dehri Hasanabad and Tahli Morri Chowk in the Cantonment.

When contacted the Municipal Corporation and Cantonment authorities said that they are continuously taking action against encroachers and imposing fines as well, but the encroachers are not following rules and regulations, they said.

The encroachments are increasing because of backing of influential persons in the city, they claimed.

Though, the Traders strongly condemn encroachments saying that majority of the customers avoid visiting congested markets.

"Our business activities are suffering badly because of encroachments," they said. But, on the other hand, they are allegedly involved in this illegal activity and support the encroachers.

Talking to APP the customers, motorists and pedestrians strongly condemned the encroachment mafia.

"We could not even move in markets for shopping because of encroachments," they said.

Altaf, a customer at Bara Bazaar, said that they could not visit the city markets owing to ever-increasing encroachments.

The encroachers occupy all roads, footpaths and open spaces, but concerned authorities are unmoved, he said.

Majid, a customer at Tench Bhatta in Cantonment area said that encroachment mafia is increasing because of mismanagement on part of the concerned authorities. "We couldnot pass through the roads because of ever-increasing encroachments, headded.