Anti-encroachment drive in Chitral

Sarwar Kamal, Chitral 

Recently, the Terichmir View Hotel was sealed due to poor hygienic food stuff. The hotel is owned by former minister of state Shahzada Mohiuddin and the sitting MNA Shahzada Iftikharuddin.

It depicts the transparency and credibility of the campaign. On the other side, people who are raising voices against these bold steps mostly belong to the business community and hotel owners.

Similarly, some political figures having their political interest and some next kin of the business community are trying to degrade these efforts from the administration through their lame and hollow arguments. Unfortunately, all the mainstream political parties are also sitting idle.

In this way, they are supporting illegal encroachments for votes is very sorrow state of affairs. Similarly, our so-called local press club is closing its eyes. Their utility to the society is almost zero. They have also got their vested interest and some political agendas. They are really following a dog in the manger policy.

The old bazaar is very congested due to the encroachments. During rush hours it is almost impossible to move over there. How people tend to forget when this summer a young motorcyclist was run over by a fire tender as a result he died on the spot. The same can happen with anyone of us any time.

According to Islamic teachings, there is a definition of street: “When two horsemen moving in full gallop can cross each other in their opposite direction, without stopping and having any problem. there should be enough space so that they can cross each other with ease.”

Islam is not only a religion it is also a way of life. We could have save many precious lives during the earth quake. Many children died when they were passing through our narrow streets. The walls of the streets collapsed and they took their last breath under the debris. If our streets were constructed according to Islamic teachings, the story could have been totally different altogether. This will give us a fair idea what should be the width of the old bazaar. Now it is up to us to do some calculations, I am sure now you agree that demolishing the encroachments is inevitable and need of the hour. Anybody with a modicum of common sense would appreciate these bold steps and sincere efforts by our DC and his team.

As a citizen of Pakistan, the government is bound to provide me a safe passage. I am demanding that both the federal and KP governments should cooperate and give free hand to the administration. The exercise is in the larger interest of the masses to help curb accidents. I am sure both the governments will understand the gravity of the problem because due to this menace people have to rush their lives and walk on the middle of the road as pavements are encroached.