Illegal squatters: Angry residents burn down tents

ISLAMABAD:

The residents of G-8/1 on Wednesday burned down the tents of people they described as “outsiders living illegally” in a park in their vicinity.

The squatters, claiming to be from Mehrabadia, moved from G-9/4 about two weeks ago after an FIR was registered against them for illegally occupying a piece of public land there.

The story took a new turn on Wednesday evening when locals approached the nearby mosque cleric and asked everyone to gather to take action against the squatters. The residents of the area assembled and burnt down the makeshift tents.

After the incident, the inhabitants of the tents assembled at the nearby Jilania Chowk to protest. The police also reached the spot to contain the situation.

Senior police official told The Express Tribune that the residents are living illegally and have no relation with inhabitants of Meharabadia, home to Rimsha Masih who was false accused in a blasphemy case.

“The CDA is likely to lodge a complaint against these illegal residents after this incident; then we will be able to take action,” said the police official.

Some residents of the area alleged that a woman named Parveen is heading these residents and is extorting money from new settlers, a fact confirmed by the police official.

Adviser to the prime minister on minorities affairs, Paul Bhatti, was not immediately available for a comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2012.