OKARA, Dec 25: Poor people of the city are being displaced from their stalls and shops in the name of anti-encroachment campaign, says a provincial minister.

Speaking at a public meeting on GT Road here on Thursday, Labour Minister Muhammad Ashraf Sohna said people were being deprived of their earning points in various areas, including chicken and timbre markets.

He criticised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, saying they were unaware of ground realities.

He said he had a meeting with District Coordination Officer Sohail Shahzad along with representatives of various trade organizations, and it was decided that the poor would not be deprived of their business points.

The minister said he would resist this anti-encroachment campaign because it would deprive thousands of families of their sources of income.

He said he would meet Commissioner Tariq Mahmood Khan and ask him to restrain this anti-encroachment campaign.

He said he would be on the road along with the protesting people if the campaign was not halted.

He asked people whose shops were razed in the chicken market a few days ago to start reconstruction of their business points.