Tahira Habib Jalib, daughter of renowned revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, has alleged that officials attempted to extort money from her after she set up a small food cart in Lahore to earn a living.
Tahira had started selling homemade daal, rice and tea near the Karim Block Market area. She said the stall received an encouraging response from customers but was shut down by enforcement officials on its first day.
According to Tahira, officials from the local administration and the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) arrived at the site and ordered her to remove the cart. She alleged that money was demanded in exchange for allowing her to continue operating. Another report quoted her as alleging that officials sought Rs5,000 per week to leave her stall alone.
PERA, however, has denied the allegations, stating that no official from the authority stopped Tahira from operating her cart or demanded money from her. The authority said that an impartial investigation would be conducted if evidence is submitted and that action would be taken if an official is found responsible.
Tahira rejected PERA’s explanation and maintained that her allegations were genuine. She has also questioned the treatment of small vendors and called for greater transparency in enforcement procedures.
The incident has sparked discussion on social media about the difficulties faced by roadside vendors and the need for fair and transparent enforcement of anti-encroachment rules in Lahore.
