HYDERABAD: Resi­dents of Islamia Colony and Mulla Ismail Goth continued their day-long protest on Thursday near Hala Naka against what they termed an illegal demolition of their settlements under an anti-encroachment campaign by the district administration.

The drive was launched to clear the area of encroachment for the construction of road on both sides of Pinyari Canal of Kotri Barrage.

Pakistan Peoples Party divisional president Ajiz Dhamra and PPP Hyderabad general secretary Waseem Rajput, however, intervened and talked to the protesters, along with Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zainul Abiden Memon.

According to the deputy commissioner, the works and services department, which was building the road, had already told the encroachers as well as PPP representatives that 55ft right of way was required by the department for the construction of road on both sides of the canal.

He said the works department officials claimed that space for constructing the road could not be retrieved from the canal’s bed, thus the 55ft stretch was required for the construction.

He said the PPP leaders promised that they would speak to the protesters in detail by Friday and issue would be amicably settled. However, no anti-encroachment drive would continue on Friday, he said.

Mr Dhamra claimed that their just grievances would be heard and addressed and then the protesters would end their protest.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2026