Falak Sher
MARDAN
The masses of Mardan showed great concern over the encroachments in different bazaars and chowk and asked the concerned authorities to take action in this connection and remove the encroachments from the city.
Muhammad Ejaz a resident said that the encroachers have occupied different bazaars allegedly in connivance with concerned officials which contribute to traffic mess and inconvenience to pedestrians.
Encroachment mafia has virtually occupied Bank road, Shahidano Bazaar, Charsadda Chowk, Malakand Chowk, Par Hoti Chowk, Dwasaro Chowk, Par Hoti Chowk, Shamshi road, Sarfaraz Gunj Bazaar and other bazaar and chowk of the city.
One Muhammad Saeed Khan, a local, 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 bazaars and markets.
He accused the encroachment department officials of having allegedly been receiving monthlies.
Moreover, footpaths are allegedly given on rent either by owners or shopkeepers. He argued that the encroachments are on the rise because the encroachers have their backs covered by influential persons and authorities concerned.
Shahab Khan, a resident added that several shops have been built in the area without getting the formal approval of maps, the encroachers also installed fruit and vegetable stalls on both sides of the road, causing inconveniences for pedestrians.
Shahab Khan added that in this connection Mayor Mardan Himayatullah Mayar has also written a letter to concerned authorities but no one is ready to take action. He alleged that due to the influential trader’s organization leaders the district administration isn’t ready to take action.
He alleged that the influential trader’s organization’s leaders had close ties with the officials. He claimed that the union leaders of the traders’ associations exerted pressure on the administration not to take action against the encroachers.
He argued that the condition of the district and especially the city showed that there is no administration in the district. The masses of Mardan demanded the chief justice of Peshawar high to take Suo Moto action in this connection and provide relief to the masses of Mardan.
