Shopkeeper alleges weighing scale was removed without a seizure receipt as traders call for transparency, equal enforcement and an investigation into alleged misuse of authority.
HASSAN ABDAL: The ongoing anti-encroachment drive by the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) in Hassan Abdal has sparked concern among traders and residents over allegations of excessive strictness, harassment and possible misuse of authority.
According to a complaint lodged by a local shopkeeper, PERA personnel initially instructed him to move goods inside his shop. The complainant alleges that the officials later returned, entered the premises and removed a weighing scale without providing a seizure receipt, seizure memo or written explanation.
He said he was reportedly instructed to visit the relevant office on Monday to collect the item.
Shopkeeper Questions Basis for Seizure
The complainant alleges that the incident occurred after he asked officials whether permanent and concrete encroachments would also be targeted during the operation.
According to his account, the officer on duty became angry and responded that the officials knew their work and did not need instructions. The shopkeeper claims the subsequent removal of the weighing scale was intended to express displeasure and harass him.
He has said CCTV footage of the incident is available for verification. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the authority’s version of the incident was not included in the complaint provided.
The case has raised questions among traders about the legal grounds for entering shop premises, removing private property and failing to provide written documentation of a seizure.
Traders Demand Equal Enforcement
Some traders have complained of what they describe as unnecessary pressure and being summoned to government offices during enforcement activities.
Residents have also questioned whether permanent encroachments are being addressed as consistently as goods placed outside small shops.
Some citizens have alleged that the intensified enforcement drive is intended to demonstrate performance to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and senior officials. However, this claim has not been independently established.
Traders have stressed that they support lawful action against encroachments and efforts to improve cleanliness but insist that enforcement should be impartial, transparent and carried out within legal limits.
Questions Raised Over Traffic Law Compliance
Concerns have also been raised over alleged traffic violations by some PERA personnel. Residents claim that officials have been seen riding motorcycles without helmets and, on some occasions, travelling three to a motorcycle.
Citizens have questioned whether enforcement personnel are being held to the same traffic rules as ordinary commuters, calling for consistent application of the law.
Calls for Official Investigation
Traders have urged senior PERA officials and the district administration to investigate the complaints, clarify the legal basis for removing the weighing scale and ensure its return through the proper procedure.
They have also called for appropriate action if an investigation establishes that any official misused their authority.
The allegations remain unverified. An official response from PERA would be necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported incident and determine whether its personnel followed the applicable procedures.