Falak Sher
MARDAN
Majority of the bazaars and squares of the city are becoming hubs of encroachments while the district administration has become a silent spectator.
The residents walking pass the areas also face lots of difficulty, because of stalls and push carts that are placed on footpaths. One Noor Muhammad said that the encroachers have occupied the majority of the bazaars allegedly in connivance with concerned officials which contribute to traffic mess and inconvenience to pedestrians.
Noor Muhammad said that encroachment mafia has virtually occupied Charssada Chowk, Malakand Chowk, Adda Road, Shamshi Road, Bank Road, Pakistan Chowk Shahidano Bazaar, Mir Afzal Khan Bazaar, Sarfarz Gunj Bazaar, Par Hoti and other bazaar and chowk of the city.
One Saleem Khan said that the encroachers have established illegal setups alongside roads and by placing their showcases on footpath bearing items for sale which is troublesome for the customers visiting the market.
One Muhammad Ibrahim, a resident, alleged that the TMA encroachment department officials have been allegedly receiving monthlies. Moreover, footpaths are given on rent either by owners or shopkeepers.
He added that the encroachments are on the rise because the encroachers have their backs covered by influential persons and authorities concerned, he added.
He added that all the shopkeepers were affiliated with traders’ organizations, therefore, they did not face any action from the authorities concerned due to their ‘connections’.
He claimed that the union leaders of the traders’ associations exerted pressure on the administration not to take action against the encroachers.
The citizens demanded the newly elected chief minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Chief justice of Peshawar High Court to take action against lawbreakers because it disturbed the routine life of the masses and is also destroying the beautification of the city.
