SWMC removes four trucks of sacrificial animals’ fat and entrails from huts in the squatter settlements around Elahiabad. PHOTO: FILE
Nomads living in these settlements later protested against the district administration and said that the officials wanted nomads to die of starvation.
City District Government spokesman Ahsan Raza told The Express Tribune that officials had received complaints from Elahiabad residents about the offal and animal fat stored in the huts.
They had said it had become difficult to breath in the open area.
Raza said the nomads, who stored animal fat and offal to extract grease from it, had been told to remove them by Sunday.
On Sunday, he said District Coordination Officer Asif Chaudhry ordered the Municipal Services executive district officer to remove the offal.
EDO Liaqat Ali Bandesha then raided the area with a Solid Waste Management Company team and removed the entire stock of fat and entrails.
Raza said the nomads had put up resistance. He said Batala Colony police were called and seven people were arrested.
A few hours later, he said, more nomads had staged a protest demonstration.
They said none of the neighbours had asked them to remove the entrails. They said the officials were lying about complaints by residents.
Fakhar Khan, one of the protesters, said that the government just wanted to oppress the poor.
He said the nomads had collected the offal to extract fat. He said this would not have taken more than a week, but the government had not been considerate.
The protesters demanded that the police release the seven men arrested during the crackdown.
They condemned the district government and the police for arresting the men who, they said, were only trying to protect a source of income.
They dispersed a few hours later.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.
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