RAHIM YAR KHAN: The ongoing encroachment removal operation has divided local traders’ union into two factions and one of the factions has accused the district administration of favouring the traders of New Sadiq Bazaar.

The deputy commissioner (DC), however, refuted the allegation, and said encroached parts of the bazaars had been marked.

Dawn learnt a few days back the district administration removed encroachments from Satellite Town. Later, when the operation began at Old Vegetable Market and New Sadiq Bazaar, district Markazi Anjuman Tajraan president Asad Ghaffar with Anjuman Tajraan of New Sadiq Bazaar President Chaudhry Riaz held a meeting with DC Jamil Ahmed Jamil and convinced him to spare glass structures and showcases outside shops (occupying 2.5 feet) would not be removed.

The group later called on Rahim Yar Khan Municipal Committee Chairman Mian Ijaz Aamir and gave him credit to halt the operation. This move angered a group of traders, led by Rana Nadeem, called on ruling MNA Javed Warraich and MPA Asif Majeed and announced forming his own faction of traders. He said a majority of traders wanted the removal of encroachments from New Sadiq Bazaar.

DC Jamil Jamil said that initially the district administration focused on big land grabbers in four tehsils. In phase 2, encroachments from bazaars would be removed. He said traders would remove their illegal structures outside 2.5 foot area of their shops on their own.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018