GUJRAT: At least 500 shopkeepers, who have been affected by the anti-encroachment operation of in Dinga town, have called upon the Punjab government to launch an inquiry into alleged excesses committed by the officials in different phases of the operation during 2025.

On the other hand, the district administration’s project of widening and restoration of these commercial roads besides constructing the open drains on both sides of these areas as the uplift scheme is under execution.

A group of affected traders claim the anti-encroachment drive was conducted without any legal justification as even the official encroachment report was prepared three days after the demolitions, raising questions about its legitimacy.

The front portions of at least 200 shops on the Thana Road were demolished up to 25 to 30 feet from both sides. Mian Waseem, one of the affected shopkeeper, revealed that his property, purchased through a government auction in 2004, was also razed.

“I am not an encroacher, the government should measure my land. If it exceeds the allotted area, they can demolish it, but if not, I should not be harassed or deprived of my property,” he stressed.

The government records show that the revenue department had registered the deeds of these shops, and Dinga Municipal Committee (MC) had approved building designs after receiving taxes and fees regularly, indicating official recognition of these businesses.

“If these shops were illegal, why were the taxes collected from us for years?” asked an another affected trader.

The traders said that as per the 1991 master plan, the authorities allegedly exceeded their limits, taking possession of an additional 45 kanals of private land without acquisition or compensation.

Even those with just one or two feet of remaining land have been barred from reconstruction, which locals describe as “sheer oppression and injustice”. They demanded an impartial investigation into the matter for justice, transparency and accountability.

Kharian Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Sher Gondal told Dawn that as per the record of land revenue department, the operation had been launched to restore the 88 feet wide right of way in the main bazaar from Milad Chowk to Gulzar Shaheen Chowk where the shopkeepers had illegally encroached upon 25 to 35 feett road, squeezing the pathway. He said that the structures erased were illegally constructed during the last 40 to 50 years and added that some traders had voluntarily removed their merchandise to pave the way for removal of the structures that was the clear evidence of illegality of these encroachments.

Moreover, the AC said there had been no resentment among the locals on the issue as only a few of them approached the other forums to challenge the operation whereas uplift work for the restoration of roads by the government and the shops by the shop owners themselves was being smoothly done.

He said nobody could become the owner of the state land through getting the designs approved or other such claims of registration deeds as official records were very clear and the administration did not exceeded in terms of its ownership.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026