Jumblat Calls for Keeping Construction Violations File Away from Political Disputes

A security official revealed to As Safir newspaper on Saturday that the public property construction violations exceed 4,000 plots throughout southern Lebanon, adding that they are far too numerous for the security forces and army to handle.

The newspaper added that the security forces will suffice with recording violations instead of thwarting them.

Meanwhile, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed the need to keep this issue away from political disputes.

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud also called on all sides to assume their responsibilities in this affair, blaming decades of neglect in handling this issue for the current problem.

He urged the need for all sides to implement the law and accept the state’s authority.

“The army and security forces are responsible for applying the law and protecting public property and therefore, attacking them while they are performing their duty only serves the chaos,” he noted.

“We will continue on thwarting the violations and we don’t have another choice in this matter,” he continued.

Baroud added: “All these developments once again confirm the need to form a government as soon as possible.”

Caretaker Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi meanwhile warned of the dangers of the continuation of construction near Beirut’s international airport.

He told An Nahar daily in remarks published on Saturday: “The illegal construction is a ticking time bomb.”

This is more than a construction violation on public property, but “it is a violation of the country, the lives of every individual, and aviation safety.”

National and political interests require politicians to take action and stop “this massacre”, Aridi added.