KARACHI, Feb 16: In a major anti-encroachment operation, Liaquatabad Town Administration on Monday removed encroachments from Nazimabad's Gole Market as well as concrete and semi-concrete shops and structures from along a main road between Nazimabad No 1 (Al-Hassan Chowk) to Jalalabad locality.

A spokesman for the town administration said that a large number of shops, cabins and other structures, which had sprung up on footpaths and within Kabari (junk) Market in Jehangirabad and Chawla Market had also been removed. Besides, he added, pushcarts, pan cabins and chicken cages occupying a thoroughfare in the vicinity of Gole Market were seized.

The anti-encroachment drive, in which heavy machinery, equipment and vehicles were used, was supervised by the town's Deputy District Officer Moin Khan and Operation In-charge Mehboob Matloob.

A strong contingent of police, belonging to Rizvia and Nazimabad police stations, was deployed to ward off any untoward incident. Meanwhile, the Town Nazim, Dr Pervaiz Mehmood, has directed the anti-encroachment officials to ensure that encroachers did not re-appear on footpaths and roadsides or else strict disciplinary action would be taken against them.

As the campaign is continuing, the encroachments in the localities of Nazimabad Chowrangi, Golimar, Firdous Colony and Aurangabad would be removed on Tuesday, according to the town administration.

Dr Mehmood had earlier advised the illegal occupants of the state land to remove their cabins, pushcarts and other belongings voluntarily before the deadline already given to them.