Judge Orders Demolition of Slum Settlements

I wonder that if the Capital Development Authority will take action as per the High Court Judge, where these five thousands families will settle?

(ISLAMABAD) - Life is so precious, and everyone in the world would love to live safe and sound lives, nobody wishes for that more than the people living in the suburbs of Islamabad (slum areas).

They are forced to live a different kind of life there. I feel pity to think of the circumstances they are living in; how ignorant they are of the harsh realities of life, and the struggling future they have to face, maybe they would not ever get the chance to see the bright colors of life.

I had been visiting the slum areas since 2009, I used to imagine the slums and people living there, all I can say, is that it is a pathetic life they are willed to live with.

Houses are made of mud and some with bricks and cement, unpaved streets and the living conditions are outrageous, which differentiate it from the normal living places.

People inhale the toxic gases from the nearby ganda naala (seasonal drainage) and God knows how they tolerate its foul smell.

Most of the inhabitants are Christians, migrated from different parts of the country, who have been settled here in search of jobs, seeking a better future for three decades.

These people don’t take care of their health and hygiene. No organization works for the children, groups are not sponsoring a child’s education and nutrition expenses.

On Friday, a local court ordered the Capital Development Authority – CDA official to remove all illegal “katchi Abbadi”. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddique of the Islamabad High Court – IHC directed the CDA to clear all settlements from the capital within a month.

There are ten colonies (slum settlements) in different sectors of the capital, like Tent colony, 66 quarters, 48 quarters, katchiabadi G-8/1, 100 quarters, France colony, Essa Nagri, Dhuke Najju, Haq bhahu, and Muslim colony. The CDA official estimated that there would be around 5000 families in and around these slums.

I wonder that if the Capital Development Authority will take action as per the High Court Judge, where these five thousands families will settle?

There is a need to promote responsibility and healthy behaviors among the people so as to improve the social and economic status of the people of the community.

Instead, they are going to demolish the living areas. Human rights worker, Basharat Khokher met CDA manager, Amir Ahmed Ali and requested him to take care of the necessary measures for the displaced families. If it happens, UNHCR should come to the front and should manage the IDPs

About Shamim Masih

"I am a Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.