KARACHI: At least nine officials — including six Karachi Metropolitan Corporation staffers and three policemen — were injured during an anti-encroachment operation launched by the civic agency in Qayyumabad on Friday.

A statement issued by the KMC said that stiff resistance was faced by the KMC staffers and the policemen from the encroachers, who not only pelted them with stones but also resorted to firing that left nine government officials, including deputy director Mohammad Rehan, injured when they went there to remove the encroachments. A KMC vehicle was also set on fire.

Despite the resistance at least 100 encroachments, including pushcarts, cabins, counters, tyre puncture shops, old furniture, gas cylinders, etc, were removed from pavements and roads in Qayyumabad and the seized goods were deposited with the KMC store in Mehmoodabad and the injured were given first aid, the statement added.

Graffiti removal

The KMC has launched a campaign to remove commercial graffiti (wall chalking) from the city.

All religious and political parties have been requested to remove their wall chalking voluntarily and refrain themselves from such acts in future, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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