JUI Reacts to Anti-Encroachment Operation in Mansehra: “Was Emergency and Governor’s Rule Imposed Against Poor Street Vendors?

MANSEHRA: Maulana Mufti Nasir Mahmood, Deputy General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and General Secretary of JUI Mansehra, has strongly criticized the operation against street vendors and members of the business community carried out in the name of removing encroachments.
Raising questions over the action, Maulana Mufti Nasir Mahmood asked, “Was the emergency and Governor’s Rule imposed against poor street vendors and the business community?”
He said that poor laborers and daily wage earners were already facing severe financial difficulties due to inflation and unemployment. Under these circumstances, removing their sources of livelihood could further worsen their economic hardships.
Call for a Balanced Approach
Maulana Mufti Nasir Mahmood emphasized that action against encroachments should be taken where necessary, but the economic rights and livelihoods of poor street vendors, laborers, and traders must also be taken into consideration.
He stated that measures to maintain order in markets and clear public spaces should be implemented in a manner that does not unnecessarily burden economically vulnerable people or deprive them of their means of earning a living.
JUI Reaffirms Support for Traders and Street Vendors
The JUI leader said, “Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam stands shoulder to shoulder with poor street vendors, laborers, and the business community.”
He added that protecting legitimate public rights, defending livelihoods, and raising the voice of economically disadvantaged groups were among the responsibilities of the party. He further stated that JUI would continue to present its position at every relevant forum to advocate for the protection of public rights.
It is worth mentioning that Assistant Commissioner Mansehra Sana Fatima recently visited Mansehra Bazaar and supervised action to remove temporary encroachments along roadsides, street vendors, and goods placed outside shops.
The operation was aimed at clearing public spaces and addressing encroachments in the bazaar. However, the action has drawn criticism from the JUI leader, who has called for a balanced approach that takes into account both the need to manage encroachments and the livelihoods of affected vendors and traders.