Katchi Abadi case: SC for concrete plans for slums
Directs federation, provinces, CDA to come up with practical solutions
Supreme Court. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The top court has directed the federation and provinces to submit a concrete plan for providing shelter for homeless people.
The three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, is hearing a constitutional petition, filed by the Awami Workers Party against the demolition of the Sector I-11 katchi abadi (slum) by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The bench, while issuing a written order last week observed that people could not be solaced by chanting empty and inane slogans and further said that it was high time that something tangible was done for public welfare.
“We therefore direct the federation as well as provinces and CDA to give their feedback as to how this serious problem, which, with every passing day is assuming an alarming proportion, can be solved within a shortest possible span of time.”
The order further states that whatever has been suggested and proposed by the executives looks captivating on paper but on close examination the solutions do not appear to be concrete and practicable.
The court emphasised that providing shelter is a fundamental issue, which has so far been ignored and overlooked by the authorities and has resulted in people making homes wherever they find space, which over the years has developed into katchi abadies.
“Those in charge come out of their slumber one morning and remove these slums with all the brute force at their command. They don’t pause even for a while to ponder over the problem. They pause and ponder over when the incubation period is over. The steps taken to remedy the problem thus further aggravate the situation,” the order said.
The court has directed the federation, province and CDA to come forth with practicable plans in line with the Constitution. The hearing of case will resume on October 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2015.
The top court has directed the federation and provinces to submit a concrete plan for providing shelter for homeless people.
The three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, is hearing a constitutional petition, filed by the Awami Workers Party against the demolition of the Sector I-11 katchi abadi (slum) by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The bench, while issuing a written order last week observed that people could not be solaced by chanting empty and inane slogans and further said that it was high time that something tangible was done for public welfare.
“We therefore direct the federation as well as provinces and CDA to give their feedback as to how this serious problem, which, with every passing day is assuming an alarming proportion, can be solved within a shortest possible span of time.”
The order further states that whatever has been suggested and proposed by the executives looks captivating on paper but on close examination the solutions do not appear to be concrete and practicable.
The court emphasised that providing shelter is a fundamental issue, which has so far been ignored and overlooked by the authorities and has resulted in people making homes wherever they find space, which over the years has developed into katchi abadies.
“Those in charge come out of their slumber one morning and remove these slums with all the brute force at their command. They don’t pause even for a while to ponder over the problem. They pause and ponder over when the incubation period is over. The steps taken to remedy the problem thus further aggravate the situation,” the order said.
The court has directed the federation, province and CDA to come forth with practicable plans in line with the Constitution. The hearing of case will resume on October 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2015.