HRCP, Civil Society Condemn Demolition of Informal Settlements in Islamabad
Islamabad: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and civil society leaders have strongly criticized ongoing demolitions targeting informal settlements in the federal capital, calling the operations discriminatory and unjust.
Speaking at a joint press conference, HRCP Chairperson Naseem Azhar stated that the government’s actions indicate that Islamabad is being developed exclusively for the wealthy. She expressed concern over the demolition of the centuries-old Syedpur Village under the pretext of removing encroachments, despite continuous appeals over the past 15 years to protect low-income residents.
The leaders highlighted that informal settlements in Islamabad are consistently targeted, often being labeled as encroachments. They recalled that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2015 had issued strict directives to the Capital Development Authority following the demolition of Sector E-11, ordering the authority to formulate a clear policy. However, CDA has reportedly ignored these court orders to date.
Social activist Ammar Rasheed noted that while other provinces have established authorities to protect the rights of informal settlements, CDA remains the only institution refusing to recognize these communities.
Farzana Bari criticized successive governments for failing to plan residential projects for the working class and informal settlement residents since Pakistan’s independence. Legal expert Shoaib Saddal emphasized that legal action should now focus on holding CDA accountable for failing to implement Supreme Court rulings.
