LAHORE, Sept 14: Operation against encroachments in Ichhra Bazaar has been discontinued as traders of the area as well as those of The Mall, Hall Road and Beadon Road have promised to clear the same on their own.

The Samanabad Town administration with the help of police and the City District Government Lahore had on Wednesday demolished shades of around 75 shops in Ichhra Bazaar early in the morning. The operation was, however, halted when traders reached the spot and after an exchange of hot words blocked Ferozepur Road.

Senior police and district administration officers also reached there and persuaded the protesters to lift the blockade.

The traders’ representatives on Thursday called on DCO Muhammad Ijaz and presented a plan for removal of encroachments and improving parking facilities in their respective areas. Traffic SSP Waseem Ahmad Khan was also present at the meeting.

The DCO was of the view that all shopkeepers should keep their belongings inside their shops, clearing footpaths and roads in front of their businesses of all kind of encroachments.

He also wanted the traders to use parking plazas for their vehicles to make room for other motorists.

The DCO asked the traffic SSP to come out with an alternative plan within three days in case parking on The Mall service lanes is banned.

The CDGL claimed that the traders accepted that parking of vehicles and illegal encroachments were a security risk for their businesses and assured them of its cooperation in solving the problems. —Staff Reporter