Informal settlements: Operation against another slum on the cards

Notices issued to residents of Basti Muzaffar Khan in Sector H-10.

ISLAMABAD:

Notwithstanding the humanitarian crisis caused by the forced eviction of residents of the I-11 slum, city managers have got a go-ahead to continue the operation against other informal settlements in the capital.

At a debriefing meeting held at the interior ministry following a ‘successful operation’ in Sector I-11, it was decided that “the drive against illegal settlements will continue with the same pace,” said a senior official of the Islamabad administration, who had attended the meeting, while wishing not to be named.

The meeting, attended by representatives of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the administration, police and rangers, failed to offer an alternative option to the dwellers that will be affected by the operation.

“It has been decided that the operation will continue with the same pace and as per the commitment made by the CDA with the Islamabad High Court,” he said.

The officer said that the coordinated efforts of various departments, which participated in the I-11 slum operation, were “highly appreciated” and their representatives have been asked for a similar coordination during the next phase.

It was decided that mediapersons would be “sensitised” about the issue to avoid criticism in the future.

CDA serves fresh notices

On the other hand, the CDA has served fresh eviction notices on the residents of Basti Muzaffar Khan, an informal settlement located in Sector H-10.

The slum, established some 30 years ago, houses nearly 420 squatters and majority of its residents are internally-displaced persons. Registered, unregistered Afghan refugees are also among the inhabitants.

Through the notices, the dwellers have been asked to vacate the area as soon as possible and the “notices should be treated as final”.

According to a recent report compiled by the Police’s Special Branch, the settlement poses a ‘security threat’ to the NESCOM hospital and other sensitive installations in the locality.

The report has suggested immediate fencing of the settlement in the first phase to avoid its expansion before it was completely removed in the second phase.

On July 22, the CDA bulldozed some 12 mud houses at the one corner of the settlement.

Evicted dwellers plan sit-in

It was learnt that the evicted residents of the I-11 slum and activists of the Awami Workers Party (AWP) were planning to stage a sit-in outside National Press Club.

We will camp outside the NPC on Saturday against the demolition drive, said AWP Islamabad Information Secretary Ammar Rashid.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.