Haripur Demolition Drive Leaves Traders in Distress
Haripur is witnessing what is being described as the largest anti-encroachment operation in its history since the creation of Pakistan, with the Haripur demolition drive continuing across the city’s markets for the seventh consecutive day.
The district administration says it has reclaimed valuable public land worth millions of rupees. Traders say the operation has left them distressed, shut businesses and left residents facing severe hardship.
The drive has also taken a tragic turn. A barber in Mochi Bazaar reportedly died of a heart attack after he could not bear the shock of seeing his shop demolished. A citizen who had bought a shop for Rs30 million just a month ago is reportedly suffering severe mental distress, while properties and land worth millions of rupees belonging to other residents have also been affected.
Haripur demolition drive hits traders hard
The situation has grown worse with prolonged power cuts. Residents have reportedly received only two hours of electricity in every 24-hour period for the past week. Large parts of the city have been reduced to rubble, while businesses have suffered heavy losses and residents remain distressed.
According to sources, the district administration has run the operation without discrimination across Haripur for the past seven days. Traders say the pace and scale of the demolitions have left them with no time to save their stock or find new premises.
Protests elsewhere in the country have also tested local administrations, where talks ended a sit-in in Qila Abdullah this week. In Haripur, traders want the same kind of hearing before more shops come down.
Arrests on the first day
Resistance to the drive on the first day led to the arrest of Main Bazaar All Traders Association President Haji Saboor Qureshi and trader leader Malik Tahir Wajahat. Both were shifted to the City Police Station and released the following day.
Their arrest set the tone for the week. Traders say they were not consulted before the operation began, and the administration says the land in question is public property that must be cleared.
Why the drive matters
Anti-encroachment drives are a familiar sight in Pakistani cities, where markets often spread onto public land over decades. The drives usually pit the administration’s duty to clear public space against traders who have built their livelihoods on it.
Haripur stands out for the scale of this operation and the distress it has caused. The death of the barber in Mochi Bazaar has become the focal point of traders’ anger, and the Rs30 million shop bought only a month ago shows how fresh the losses are.
The power cuts add a second burden. Two hours of electricity a day makes it hard for the remaining shops to trade, and for residents to cope with the rubble and dust around them.
Haripur sits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where public services are already stretched. Dengue cases have put pressure on the province’s health system this season, and traders say the demolition drive has added to the strain on families.
What happens next
The operation is still under way, and traders are pressing the administration for relief and a clear plan for those who have lost shops. The administration has not said when the drive will end or what support, if any, will be offered to affected traders.
For now, the markets of Haripur stay half-demolished, the power stays mostly off, and the traders wait to learn whether their losses will be counted at all.
Frequently asked questions
How long has the Haripur demolition drive run?
The operation has continued for seven consecutive days across the city’s markets, and it is described as the largest anti-encroachment drive in Haripur since the creation of Pakistan.
What losses have traders reported?
Traders report demolished shops, heavy business losses and severe hardship. A barber in Mochi Bazaar reportedly died of a heart attack after his shop was demolished, and a man who bought a shop for Rs30 million a month ago is in severe mental distress.
How much power are residents getting?
Residents have reportedly received only two hours of electricity in every 24 hours for the past week, as prolonged outages continue alongside the demolitions.
Were traders arrested during the drive?
Yes. On the first day, Main Bazaar All Traders Association President Haji Saboor Qureshi and trader leader Malik Tahir Wajahat were arrested and taken to the City Police Station. Both were released the next day.
