PESHAWAR: On the directives of the Peshawar High Court, the district administration has vacated 180 shops from the Afghan occupants who had been in possession of the outlets for decades.

The Afghan government was in the possession of the 180 shops established at over five kanals of land is situated in front of the Jinnah Park.

The district administration conducted the operation late on Tuesday night. The case of vacating the shops had been in the court for long.

After eviction, the district administration handed over the market to its owner, Syed Intikhab Haider Abidi.

It is worth mentioning here that the Afghan National Bank was collecting more than Rs1.5 million per month through its manager from the occupants of the 180 shops.

Meanwhile, the PHC disposed of a contempt of court petition filed by the owner against the district administration and police for not handing him over the market.

Deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali Azghar appeared in the court and informed the bench that they had conducted operation on Tuesday night and handed over the possession of the market to its owner.

The bench allowed the shopkeepers to take away their goods from the shops in the presence of police.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019