MANSEHRA: Adviser to the chief minister on tourism, archaeology and culture Zafar Mehmood on Tuesday said legal action would be taken against government officials, who allowed illegal roadside constructions.

“During a recent meeting with heads of civic agencies from across the province, we [government] ordered the removal of encroachments on the public right of way at tehsil and district levels,” he told reporters after attending a meeting here.

The adviser said in the past, the tehsil municipal administrations, National Highway Authority and communication and works department issued no objection certificates to illegal buildings after succumbing to political pressures.

He said all encroachments on or along the main arteries, including Karakoram Highway,would be removed.

CM aide says orders issued for removal of roadside encroachments

Mr Mehmood said an anti-encroachment operation would be launched in Mansehra district soon in consultation with the relevant agencies and departments.

“Notices have already been served by the National Highway Authority on road encroachers for voluntary demolition of illegal structures to prevent a clampdown,” he said.

The adviser said the caretaker government was working to address the region’s all issues, which were ignored by its predecessors to the misery of the people.

RALLY: People of Pulrah and adjoining areas staged a rally on Tuesday to protest a lack of facilities and threatened to boycott elections to the provincial assembly.

“We all announce the boycott of the upcoming provincial assembly elections over the failure of successive political governments to provide us with basic facilities of life,” Youth Force president Nawaz Tanoli told protesters in Pulrah area.

The participants shouted slogans against political parties for what they claimed not developing Matsarian and neighbouring villages despite repeated promises.

Mr Tanoli said political leaders announced road, water, health and education schemes for the area but didn’t ensure their execution.

Another protester, Liaquat Ali, said the locals won’t participate in elections if the Pulrah-Chita Ghazikot Road wasn’t blacktopped.

“Men and women won’t cast vote in the coming polls to protest the denial of rights,” he said.

Protester Peer Mohammad Abbasi threatened street protests against political parties over failure to serve the people.

He said that nominees of political parties shouldn’t approach them for support in their election in Matsarian and adjoining localities.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2023