Capital’s slums: Court directs authorities to come up with action plan

IHC justice says utility connections of slum dwellers should be cut off.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed authorities to submit a plan of action in connection with the removal of illegal slums from the capital in a week.

The single-member bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui resumed hearing of the case regarding slums in Islamabad and directed the interior secretary and top officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA), district administration and police to come up with a plan on the next hearing.

On the previous hearing, the court had directed the officials to appear in person.

Justice Siddiqui remarked that because of the sluggishness of the civic agency, people built new houses on land where CDA planned to develop new sectors, adding that slums have now become a crime den.

On Thursday, the CDA chairman told the court that steps were being taken to ensure peaceful eviction from slums. The IGP also assured complete support and protection if authorities decide to conduct an operation for forceful eviction of slum dwellers.

In his remarks, Justice Siddiqui said that half of the issues would be solved if the authorities severe connections of gas, electricity and other utilities there.

Earlier, Farrukh Dall, the counsel for one of the petitioners, argued that Katchi Abadis should be legalised as it was the responsibility of the state to provide accommodation to people. He maintained that the government had declared slums in the capital as legal in 1992 and 1993 but later in 1997, the Cabinet Division declared only 10 out of 34 Katchi Abadis as legal.

Justice Siddiqui had remarked that no slums in the capital could be legalised as per the law.

While directing the authorities to submit action plan, the court adjourned the case till June 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2015.