Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered the authorities to tackle the complaints of street vendors after they filed a petition against the removal of their stalls.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the case with advocates Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, who represented the suppliers.
The petitions claimed that suppliers operating with valid licenses were removed by force from their locations by the authorities.
During the hearing, the court criticized the lack of coordination between Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Traffic Police.
“This is not a legal question, but a matter of coordination,” Justice Khan noted.
The court questioned why small-scale suppliers earning lean income had to turn to the right of their rights.
It expressed concern about the delay in issuing licenses with applications pending for two years.
Attorney Imaan Mazari presented video visions showing that street vendors were removed, despite having allowed permits.
She claimed that the authorities demanded bribery and targeted those who refused to pay.
Assistant Commissioner told the court that only action was taken against illegal suppliers.
However, the court noted that the authorities had not acted after the suppliers’ applications for two years.
The court instructed CDA, MCI and the traffic police to coordinate and solve the problem.
It ordered the authorities to present a decision plan in the next consultation scheduled for a week later.
