PHC orders establishment of anti-encroachment cell at CBP

Humayun Khan
PESHAWAR: A divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad ordered the Cantonment Board Peshawar to remove encroachment as well as for establishment immediately a permanent Anti-encroachment Cell to ensure that no encroachments are made on the footpaths and roads in the premises of Cantt while directing Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic to deploy personnel for smooth flow of traffic.
The writ pleaded that illegal encroachment made on Fakhar-e-Alam Road, Peshawar Saddar being posh area of Peshawar cant as a number shopkeepers have illegally occupied the footpath and roadside, which causes inconvenience for the inhabitants of the locality and pedestrians.
The plea argued to declare illegal parking on government property/roads especially Saddar Fakhar Alam Road, Kalabari road, Saddar Cant Peshawar as illegal and ineffective upon the rights of petitioner and general public. To direct respondents for demolishment of illegal encroachment permanently made by the shopkeepers on roads.
The respondents to regularly perform their duties and to deploy the lifter/traffic police for removing illegal encroachment for smooth running of traffic, the writ pleaded. The petitioner requested shopkeepers for removal of encroachment on footpath and roadside however, he was warned by some of the shopkeepers hence, forced to report the matter on Pakistan Citizen Portal for compliance but to no avail.
The pictures clearly show that they are roughly using the roads for their business activities and the respondents are receiving extra financial benefits from the shopkeepers hence, they are not taking any action against them. The Saddar area fall in the territorial jurisdiction of Cantonment Board Peshawar (CBP) but they are reluctant to take action against encroachers, the judgement stated.
The drug-addicts are using garbage and places of raw materials for their activities which has resulted so many reported unpleasant scenes which can’t be ignored.