The Supreme Court of Pakistan has finally issued a restraining order to the Capital Development Authority (CDA), staying action against the slums around Islamabad until Monday.
In the past few days, a number of social activists used social media to highlight the plight of residents of katchi abadis in the suburbs of the capital and petition was subsequently filed with Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The SC order has restrained CDA from taking any action – including razing – against the slums in Sector I-11 until August 31, the day of next hearing.
The order also asked the CDA, Islamabad chief commissioner, federal government and the Islamabad inspector general of police to present a detailed report addressing all issues raised by the petitioners.
The SC ordered the respondents to explain details of why the slums needed to be removed, including their demographics, numbers, pictures as well as policies to fulfill the obligation of the authorities to assure shelter for the displaced citizens.
Furthermore, the verdict called for responses from all provincial government to the question of providing housing to their citizens.
While the administrative authorities in Islamabad have been restricted to go ahead with forceful evictions until next Monday, it looks like the slum dwellers have finally found a glimmer of hope.
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Pakistan must be a welfare state in true sense. If army can can run real estate company, cement production company, milk plants, banks etc., why can’t 2, 3 or 4 from the local charity organizations form a housing development company for poor people like those in Katchi Abaadis.
Give them a respectable living. They are citizens of our country and have every potential which other classes have. Some one must come forward. People will certainly contribute their zakath money for this noble cause, after all, the purpose of zakath is welfare of poor people in society.