NAROWAL: The district administration on Monday continued its operation against illegal constructions despite resistance and razed dozens of structures at shops and houses in Zafarwal.

According to Narowal Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza, the operation targets illegal structures inZafarwal tehsil. He said shopkeepers and citizens had constructed buildings illegally along Old Chanda Road, with extensions of 10 to 15 feet on both sides of the road.

A week ago, shopkeepers and residents of Chanda Road had asked for halting the demolition, saying that the demolition should be based on the original road maps.

Raza said a joint team from the revenue department and the municipal committee used maps to identify illegal constructions. After completing the identification process as per the records, the administration issued a three-day warning noticeto the citizens. Special demolition teams were then formed, with personnel from the revenue department, municipal committee, Rescue 1122, Gepco, the police and other agencies. Heavy machinery was employed to dismantle the structures and municipal employees worked to clear the debris from the demolished shops and buildings.

Three municipal employees were injured during the operation and received immediate first aid from rescue personnel.

During the demolition, Gepco employees temporarily halted power supply to Old Chanda Road to facilitate the safe removal of buildings, later reconnecting the wires once the work was completed.

The DC said seven kilometers of road had been cleared of illegal constructions and encroachments in Zafarwal tehsil and assured that the operation would continue uninterrupted.

However, Chanda Road residents Mohammad Hafeez and Allah Dutta claimed the operation was biased, alleging that buildings belonging to influential people were being spared. DC Raza rejected these allegations as baseless, saying that no illegal construction would be tolerated.

36 SHOPS SEALED: The district administration sealed 36 shops and arrested 62 shopkeepers for hoarding, substandard food and overcharging.

Deputy Commissioner Syed HassanRaza told Dawn that 27 price magistrates are monitoring shopkeepers and wholesalers across the district.

During surprise inspections, 2,293 shopkeepers were found involved in hoarding, selling substandard food and overcharging. Price magistrates sealed 36 shops and arrested 62 shopkeepers for selling goods above the rates fixed by the District Price Control Committee.

Also, an FIR was registered against two wholesalers involved in hoarding.

The price magistrates also imposed a Rs1 million fine altogether on violators.

KILLED: The driver of the district election commissioner was shot dead by unidentified people, who fled while brandishing weapons.

According to Muhammad Faisal Naeem, deceased Sajid Rauf Butt`s brother and resident of Narang Mandi, Sheikhupura, his brother was on his way home from Rasoolpura Railway Crossing when two unidentified motorcyclists intercepted him outside the District Election Commissioner`s office shot him dead. Rescue 1122 declared Butt dead.

Local police and forensic teams collected evidence and recorded witness statements. An FIR has been registered at Narowal City police station on the complaint of Naeem under sections 302, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The police said motive for the killing is not known.