MIRPURKHAS: Encroachments along the city`s roads, in markets and bazaars have mushroomed over the past few months, creating hurdles to smooth flow of traffic and movement of pedestrians.

Sources in Municipal Corporation Mirpurkhas said that most encroachers enjoyed political support and they contributed to failure of anti-encroachment drives launched from time to time by the corporation.

Sir Syed road, Umerkot road, M.A.

Jinnah road, Mirwah road, Colony road, Hirabad road, Makka Masjid road, Hyderabad road, Shahi bazaar, Khisak Pura, Municipal shopping centre, Police shopping center were the most affected by encroachers.

Civil society and social organisationscriticised the district administration for failing to taking action illegal encroachments and clear the city, particularly main roads and markets, of the growing menace.

Ghulam Hussain Kanio, assistant commissioner of Mirpurkhas taluka, said that MCM had the main encroachment removal department. He had written to mayor Abdul Raoof Ghori and sought help in removal of encroachments as per directives of Sindh High Court but despite passage of a year he did not get any assistance from the mayor in this regard, he said.

He said that the mayor did not even submit his reply [to the court].

He said that perhaps the mayor, who was associated with Pakistan Peoples Party, did not want to face the wrath of his party as most of the encroachers were party supporters.

The mayor was unavailable for comments.