FAISALABAD: Kutchehry Bazaar traders staged a token shutter down on Wednesday following some of their colleagues were allegedly subjected to torture publicly by police and traffic wardens during an anti-encroachment operation.

According to sources, the traders had been opposing imposition of parking fee by district administration that was charging Rs10 for a motorcycle and Rs20 for a car.

The issue erupted again during the anti-encroachment operation when traffic wardens, police, Town Municipal Administration and Civil Defence officials started impounding illegally parked motorcycles in the bazaar.

The protesting traders alleged the operation was launched without any prior warning, blaming District Coordination Officer (DCO) Noorul Ameen Mengal for ordering torture of their colleagues.

Five traders have also been arrested during the operation by Rail Bazaar police, while the officials impounded dozens of motorcycles.

The traders closed their shops and went on a token strike terming the operation “illogical”.

Situation remained tense during the operation as traders termed it discriminatory, alleging they had been punished for raising voice against “forced parking system”.

According to locals, five wardens led by Inspector Rafiq bundled up a man into a police van for criticising the operation.

Noman, a trader, alleged that Civil Defence employees confiscated his motorcycle parked in front of his shop. He asked why the operation against encroachments was launched only in Kutchehry Bazaar, sparing other congested markets of the city.

“A number of times operations against encroachments had been conducted in different parts of the district but no one was subjected to torture. However, this time police and traffic wardens tortured traders publicly at the DCO’s behest, which is condemnable,” he said.

The DCO denied issuing orders of subjecting traders to torture. He said that he would take up the issue with city police officer (CPO) and the chief traffic officer (CTO).

“I condemn torture incident. It was a routine operation against the encroachment,”he added.

He said parking place had been given to traders at the Zail Ghar.

CPO Sohail Habib Tajik said the Lyallpur Town SP Atif Akram would look into the torture issue.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2015

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