The Mandi Bahauddin Press Club was demolished early on Sunday morning without any prior notice or warning from the district administration, according to the club’s president.
Zaheer Khan, President of the Mandi Bahauddin Press Club, stated that the club received no demolition notice from the authorities. The demolition occurred at 4 am, catching everyone by surprise.
“We were all asleep when this happened, and we had no prior notice,” Khan said in a phone interview. “We had invested significant money into this building, and now all our records and property are destroyed.”
He questioned why the demolition was carried out in the early hours of the morning. Video footage taken at the scene showed the damaged interior and exterior of the building, with furniture and other items belonging to the club scattered outside.
Khan also revealed that the district administration had offered the press club a new location and that he had discussed the matter with the assistant deputy commissioner the previous night. “He assured me that everything would be arranged, but the demolition was not discussed at that time,” Khan added.
The press club was located in two rented shops on government land, and Khan pointed out that the other shops in the area had also been demolished, with the owners receiving no notice either.
When asked about potential legal action, Khan stated that the club was not pursuing any at the moment. However, he warned that if the district administration did not provide a new location, protests would be staged, and other press clubs would be involved. “This is an attack on journalism,” Khan said, noting that the building had stood for over 30 years.
Meanwhile, Hafiz Zahid Hameed, President of Mandi Bahauddin’s Electronic Media, expressed concern over the incident, reiterating that no prior notice had been given about the demolition.
District Commissioner Faisal Saleem explained that the demolition of the shops, including those rented to the press club, was part of an anti-encroachment operation aimed at widening the road, clearing congestion, and constructing a pedestrian footpath. He clarified that the 24 shops in the area were being removed as part of this operation.
Saleem also disputed the claim that the press club had agreed to relocate. “We met with the journalists and community members yesterday, and they agreed to move to a new location,” he said, adding that the demolition was communicated to them beforehand. He further noted that the press club had set up in two of the shops on government land and that there had been ongoing litigation due to unpaid rent.
