An alliance of city traders warned Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) they would reconstruct demolished shops if the latter failed to take action within 15 days against a number of structures illegally built by the government departments at various city locations.
All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) chairman Atiq Mir said in a statement that the civic agencies have demolished around 5000 shops declaring them illegal since the launch of anti-encroachment drive, pushing over 50,000 families to a financial quagmire.
"On the other hand, the authorities concerned have failed to take action against encroachments built by various government departments particularly the police over public places, parks, sewerage lines, roads and footpaths in Karachi," he said.
AKTI chairman deplored that poor traders were targeted even though most of the shopkeepers were KMC tenants and were regularly paying rent to the government. He compared them with the traffic police that had occupied footpaths by constructing check posts. He accused that majority of the officials posted on such pickets were minting money from commuters on the pretext of traffic violations.
"The civic agencies should implement the Supreme Court orders in true spirit by taking action against illegal occupations across the board," he demanded.
Atiq Mir pointed out various traffic police check posts illegally built on different locations, including Allah Wala Traffic police check post, PIDC, Lasbela, Saddar, Fawwara Chowk, Teen Talwar and 2-Talwar, Garden, Metropole Hotel, Sakhi Hassan, near Aisha Bawani School, Shershah bridge, etc. If selective action is taken under the garb of SC orders, traders have every right to rebuild the shops at the same locations where KMC razed them, he warned.