ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of residents from informal settlements in the federal capital staged protests on Sunday against expected anti encroachment operations by the Capital Development Authority, warning that thousands of families could be displaced if demolitions proceed.
A large rally was held by residents of Rimsha Colony in Sector H 9 where protesters marched through the area raising slogans against the civic agency. The demonstration was led by Christian community leader J Salik who accused authorities of attempting to remove residents who had been living in the area for years.
Protesters claimed that many families had originally been relocated to the colony by government authorities and now faced sudden eviction. They said the civic body had recently conducted a small scale operation in the settlement, creating fear among residents that a larger demolition campaign could follow.
Similar protests have also been reported in Shapar Colony in Sector G 7 where residents are resisting planned action after the authority removed several structures during an operation earlier this month. According to officials, the demolished structures were built on land reserved for a public park under Islamabad’s master plan.
Meanwhile the Awami Workers Party criticised what it described as harassment of katchi abadi residents across the capital. Party leaders including Zeeshan Ahmed, Alia Amirali and Aasim Sajjad demanded an immediate halt to evictions and urged the government to provide compensation and resettlement options for affected families.
CDA officials however insist the settlements are illegal and built on encroached land. Authorities say the agency is reclaiming state property in line with the city’s master plan, noting that several illegal rooms and commercial structures had been constructed on land reserved for public facilities near Khadda Market in G 7.
