MARDAN: Though the district administration issued a notice to shopkeepers in the Mardan city 20 days ago to remove encroachments or else action would be taken against them, the warning seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
The notice had clearly directed that all shopkeepers should voluntarily remove the encroachments within seven days or else the district administration would launch an operation against them as per the law.
Assistant Commissioner Mardan Ahmed Sher Zaman Dogar had issued a notice on June 1, asking shopkeepers, traders and businessmen to remove all types of encroachments.Under Section 66 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013, offences related to encroachment are punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three (03) years or a fine not exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) rupees or both. Moreover, in case of continuation of the offense, an additional daily fine can also be imposed by the court.
Under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Property Removal of Encroachments Act, 1977, the authorized officer has the powers to immediately remove encroachments, evict illegal occupants and demolish structures. All government expenses incurred on removing encroachments under the said Act will be recovered from the occupants as arrears of Land Revenue as per Section 7.
However, despite a considerable period of time after the issuance of the notice, no effective and comprehensive operation could be initiated against the encroachments, over which the citizens have expressed serious concern and disappointment.
The citizens said that issuing the notice by the administration proved to be just a temporary action and due to lack of practical steps after that, the encroachments continue to exist, due to which the flow of traffic, pedestrian movement and civic order are being affected.
The public demands that the district administration ensure the implementation of the orders issued by it and take action against encroachments without discrimination so that the problems faced by the citizens can be eliminated.
