KARACHI, March 18: The anti-encroachment campaign launched by Faisal Cantonment Board in Gulistan-i-Jauhar turned violent on Thursday when the board officials had to use force to raze illegal structures from footpaths.

Earlier, the board officials during the campaign on Wednesday were severely beaten up by many people in the area. On Thursday morning, the board officials along with a large number of Rangers personnel arrived at Jauhar Chowrangi to continue their campaign against illegal structures on footpaths.

However, the board officials were strongly resisted by the pushcart owners, chicken-sellers and flower vendors, who refused them to take their properties away.

An exchange of words between the two sides turned into a clash and the groups used batons and pelted stones on each other. A few persons from both sides were reportedly injured in the clash. The feud ended with the timely intervention of Rangers personnel and the cantonment board officials confiscated many cabins and pushcarts.

The incharge of anti-encroachment cell, Faisal Cantonment Board, Mr Farooq, said that complaints were being received from people that many footpaths in Gulistan-i-Jauhar had been occupied by encroaches leaving little room for pedestrians to walk.

"Faisal Cantonment Board staff in collaboration with Rangers personnel acted on these complaints and removed encroachments despite resistance from some people," he said.

However, within a few hours after the operation, the encroachment reemerged in the area, as the pushcart owners returned to their actual places on footpaths around Jauhar Chowrangi.

A cabin owner, Hashim, alleged that three different groups, including area police and activists of a political party, used to receive bribe from them on weekly basis for their protection. He said that it was his right to run his business after allegedly making regular payments.

He charged that the Faisal Cantonment Board officials were also demanding "weekly" from them for the last many days. He said that the very operation was launched against them on their refusal to pay the "weekly" to the board officials.

Meanwhile, some area people alleged that sanitary staff of the cantonment board broke sewerage lines around Jauhar Chowrangi during the anti-encroachment campaign turning all surrounding roads into pool of sewerage water.

They condemned the move and demanded of the Executive Officer of the Faisal Cantonment Board to take action against those involved in causing inconvenience to public. -PPI