RAWALPINDI, April 23: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Monday announced its decision to move court against Pakistan Railways for bulldozing boundary walls of eight factories at Rawat Industrial Estate.
Addressing a press conference, the RCCI president alleged that the anti-encroachment drive of Pakistan Railways had only targeted these factories and did not touch the factories of a federal minister and senator located in the same area. “The operation was illegal and unethical and business community will go to court against the railway officials,” he said.
RCCI Senior Vice-President Raja Amer Iqbal, Vice-President Chaudhry Iqbal, group leader Njamul Haq Malik and other members were also present on the occasion.
“The factories of Federal Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Talha Mehmood and Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani are in the same area where PR has launched the operation, but remained unaffected by the campaign”, he said.
He denied that the factories had encroached upon the land of Pakistan Railways but confirmed that they had received eviction notices from the railways. “We were sorting out the issue with Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railway and who had agreed not to launch any operation,” he said adding but the railways anti-encroachment staffers sabotaged the talks.
He said they had agreed to go for demarcation of the land and involve revenue department in this regard.
He said in case of encroachment they had offered three solutions including giving another place to PR, pay monthly rent or get the land on lease. “These options were the best solution to the issue but railways ignored them and launched the operation and demolished the buildings,” he said.
He said that the business community was already in serious trouble due to energy crisis and the Pakistan Railways campaign had added to their problems.
“We will get an FIR registered against the Railways officials who were involved in operation. Now we will go to court and would claim the compensation for damages,” he claimed.
On the other hand, Divisional Superintendent Syed Munawar Shah refuted the claims of the RCCI chief and said that Pakistan Railways had also demolished the boundary wall of the factory owned by Senator Tallah Mehmood.
“Supreme Court had directed Pakistan Railways to retrieve its land. In Rawalpindi division, a total 43 acres of land was encroached by the private parties and during last two months, the railways has retrieved 39 acres of land including seven kanals at Rawat Industrial Estate,” he said.