KARACHI, Oct 3: In what appears to be a move to target an opposition leader belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), city government officials dug up the road, cut trees and demolished the footpath along his restaurant in Clifton on Wednesday.

PML-N Additional Information Secretary Sardar Rahim owns the restaurant, where a similar operation was carried out in September last year. At that time, Mr Rahim had said the operation had been carried out at the behest of the former principal secretary to the Sindh Governor, Saleem Khan. But, Mr Khan, who is now posted as federal secretary for local government, had denied the allegation.

When contacted, Saddar Town officials distanced themselves from the action, saying the cutting of trees and digging of the pavement near the restaurant was done by the department concerned of the city government. “We are charging night sitting tax from the owners of the restaurant and we have no objection to their using the pavement or adjacent area as the owners also maintain the place,” said an official requesting anonymity.

A spokesman for the city government told Dawn that anti-encroachment operations were being carried out in all parts of the city without any discrimination. “People in large numbers are visiting Bagh Ibne Qasim and traffic congestion has become a routine in the area. Therefore, the city government has initiated work to widen the road before Eid-ul-Fitr for which an anti-encroachment operation was carried out,” he added.

Sindh PML-N president Salim Zia termed the operation an act of state terrorism aimed at victimisation of senior leader Sardar Rahim. Condemning the incident, he asked the authorities to pay compensation and take action against all officials and staff concerned. “There is no encroachment and the restaurant paid all taxes, duties and bills regularly. It is nothing but an act of political revenge,” he said.