KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation suspended its much-publicised anti-encroachment drive in Bolton Market on Tuesday after traders staged a sit-in to protest against it, arguing that the drive was launched without any notice.

The local administration, however, said the drive would be carried out next week with ‘proper planning’.

The KMC’s anti-encroachment department sought help from the police at the eleventh hour to remove encroachments from Boulton Market and adjoining areas, said City SP Aftab Nizamani.

He added that as the vendors and traders resisted the drive and staged a sit-in, it was decided that the anti-encroachment drive be suspended for a week and would be relaunched after proper planning.

The SP said it was agreed that for launching such a drive the deputy commissioner (south) and police would be taken on board.

However, a KMC official said that the anti-encroachment drive was carried out in the old city area and encroachments were removed from Boulton Market, Plastic Market, Khhori Garden, Newham Road and other areas.

“The encroachers tried to resist the move but failed in their attempt and the anti-encroachment squad completed its operation by removing more than 300 pushcarts, roadside stalls, cabins and other encroachments from the main road and pavements.”

The shopkeepers were also warned to remove their belongings from the road and footpaths within two days or else those would also be seized.

Earlier, Karachi administrator Saqib Ahmed Soomro at a press conference warned shopkeepers, especially in the major commercial and old city areas, to remove cabins, counters and other structures in front of their shops and offices. Otherwise, they were told, those would be confiscated by anti-encroachment officials.

He added that encroachments were being cleared daily, but they re-emerged soon after they were removed.

The KMC administrator said that shopkeepers should stop this practice as it was blocking the pavements and edges of roads.

He vowed to clear all footpaths and roads, particularly those in the major and busy trade and commercial centres of the city.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2015

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