PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim has expressed concern over the ongoing anti-encroachment operations in the province, alleging that poor people were being targeted while the authorities appear unable to act against influential individuals. He said the law must be enforced without discrimination and applied equally to the weak and the powerful. Mr Nazim said encroachments on government land should be removed without favouritism. “If we have also violated the law, action should begin with us,” he said, stressing that no one should be above the law. DLP Report
ANP spokesperson said the KP was already facing severe economic devastation due to terrorism, and putting further financial pressure on people in the name of anti-encroachment operations was unjustified.
He added that the burden of the drive appeared to fall disproportionately on poor and economically vulnerable sections of society.
The ANP spokesperson questioned why the encroachments, which had existed for years, were being addressed only now.
He referred to reports that some people allegedly involved in establishing encroachments had regularly paid taxes to government officials.
“If these reports are correct, who allowed the encroachments to be established, who allegedly collected taxes from them, and when will action be taken against the officials involved?” he asked.
Mr Nazim demanded accountability not only for those who had established illegal structures but also for government officials whose alleged collusion, negligence or patronage had allowed them to remain in place for years.
He said the government must take into account the economic conditions of the province and the difficulties faced by the public.
