SAHIWAL: Despite a stay order issued by the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court, the local Municipal Corporation (MC) sealed 52 shops and issued expulsion notices to shop owners accused of either illegally occupying MC properties or having dispute of shop ownership.
Sources said the shops were sealed during an operation conducted on Wednesday night by MC staff.
Reports said over the past few months, the MC had issued expulsion notices to more than 132 shop owners, targeting those occupying shops without authorisation or involved in ownership conflicts. These shops are located in four major commercial areas: Jinnah Shopping Centre, Quaid-i-Azam Market, and MC shops on Railway Road and Church Road.
Instead of vacating the shops by the deadlines, the shop owners sought legal intervention and obtained a stay order from the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court on Jan 14, 2025.
Judge Raheel Kamran, presiding over writ petition 60/2025 filed by 132 shop owners through their counsel Muhammad Usman, stated in the stay order that the MC’s plea under Section 10 of the Colonisation of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912, to vacate corporation shops for a new auction applies only to agricultural land, not to shops under the MC’s jurisdiction. The court directed that matters related to rent, auction, and illegal occupation of MC shops be addressed under the Punjab Local Government Act rather than the previously used guidelines by the MC in Sahiwal.
The court further ruled that the MC shops should not be auctioned, and the shop owners should not be disturbed until the next hearing on Jan 22.
The court summoned the MC administrator and other staff to explain their actions during the next hearing. However, in a surprising move, the MC proceeded to seal 52 shops on Wednesday night in preparation for the next auction.
Reports said under the direction of Commissioner/Administrator Shoaib Iqbal, the MC is conducting a drive against encroachment, illegal shop occupation and the renewal of auction deeds with shop owners.
Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2025
