ATTOCK, Dec 4: The anti-encroachment operation being carried out in the city faced temporary suspension on Thursday as tension mounted when the district administration staff removed illegal structures raised by relatives of a local MNA belonging to the ruling party in Punjab, it has been learnt.

Following the orders of the provincial government, a clean-up campaign was launched by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Attock last week.

But when the TMA team on Thursday demolished the encroachments, including those at the house of a cousin of PML-N’s MNA and clinic of his son-in-law in the Pleader Line area, a war of words was triggered between the two sides.

Some people informed MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, who along with his political supporters reached the scene and asked the TMA officials as to why they started the operation without his consent and without issuing notices to the shopkeepers and other persons.

The TMA staff informed him that the operation had been launched on the orders of DCO Attock and they were bound to follow them.

The reply made the MNA aggressive, however, in the meantime District Officer Revenue (DOR) Akramullah Khan Niazi reached the spot and cooled down the tempers.

The situation normalised when the DOR assured the enraged MNA that the matter would be settled amicably.

Sources said the TMA officials temporarily suspended the operation and sent back the bulldozer and anti-encroachment team from the area.

Meanwhile, talking to local newsmen, who also reached the scene, MNA Sheikh Aftab said he was not against anti-encroachment drive but he objected to it as neither the DCO had taken his consent nor notices were issued to the shopkeepers and other people.