RAWALPINDI, May 25: The Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) on Wednesday launched an operation against encroachments in the city and razed four kiosks besides seizing goods displayed in front of shops.

Tahir Mehmood Khan, spokesman for the town municipal, told Dawn that the drive was launched on the directives of District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar, adding that Town Municipal Officer Shahzad Haider supervised it.

“Policemen also accompanied the anti-encroachment staff.” He said the RTMA staff visited Raja Bazaar, Liaquat Road, Iqbal Road, Ganjmandi, Hamilton Road and adjoining bazaars.

“Four kiosks established on the road in Ganjmandi were razed. Goods were also seized from these areas.” The seized goods were shifted to the Rawal Town offices.

Mehmood Khan said the TMO had warned the shopkeepers that RTMA would take action against shopkeepers displaying their goods on footpaths and roadsides. He said the current anti-encroachment drive was aimed at encroachers without any discrimination.

He said the RTMA staff also lifted motorcycles wrongly parked in the middle of road. “Later, we returned the bikes to owners.” He said the shopkeepers were directed to park their motorbikes and cars along the footpaths and did not allow any vendor to establish their stalls in front of their shops.

RTMA Administrator Saif Anwar Jappa had directed that the seized goods would not be returned to shopkeepers and vendors. “RTMA will auction goods and spend the money on development works,” said Mehmood Khan.