The news of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) being on a cleansing mission around Islamabad, forcefully evicting residents from slums it claims are sheltering local criminals, Taliban and illegal Afghan refugees, is spreading around the country swiftly. Through the supporters of the katchi abadi dwellers, the issue is getting attention from various parties and interest groups in the country, and indeed beyond, giving some hope to those who fear they may be next on the authority’s list.
Who knew this news could reach an international platform so soon? Through his wildly famous photo blog on Facebook, Humans of New York (HONY), photographer Brandon Stanton collects quotes and short stories from the people he meets. On a recent visit to Pakistan in which he highlighted the Hunza Valley along with other areas of Pakistan, Stanton posted a picture of a lady talking about the logic behind the evictions and the efforts of social supporters like her to combat such acts from state authorities.
Stanton typically doesn’t disclose the names of people he photographs.
“We are trying to resist slum evictions in Islamabad. There is no affordable housing in the city, so servants and labourers huddle together in informal settlements called katchi abadis, which have no water or electricity. Recently, the Islamabad High Court has issued an eviction notice, and the land is being sold out beneath them. They are defending their actions by saying that terrorists hide in the slums. Right now an operation is underway to remove the slum inhabitants by force,” the woman, photographed holding a book titled Feminist Theory, told Stanton.
Like two sides of a coin, this story also has a flip side, and I think it would be only fair to present both sides to you.
The CDA has denied most allegations of cruelty and brutality on its Facebook page. The authorities are countering the allegations by reposting photos and pointing out fallacies, such as a photo showing a crying child while there is a crowd milling about in the background and how it must not be from this time of the year because the people in the picture are wearing sweaters and jackets.
According to the CDA, its personnel are trying their best to accommodate the uprooted households and are providing free transport and assistance to help people move to their new dwellings, while also trying their best to make evictions more peaceful for all stakeholders. In court, the minister of state for parliamentary affairs enthusiastically agreed upon an inquiry to prove the wrongness of the allegations made by the supporters of the illegal slum-dwellers.
The lady with fiercely passionate eyes featured on the HONY Facebook page, meanwhile, talked about feminism emerging from this movement. “One beautiful thing about advocating for the poor is that feminist ideals are advanced naturally. In order to fight eviction from their homes, women who patriarchy has kept secluded have been allowed to emerge into public life. Their husbands have been forced to choose their homes over their idea of honour. Even within my organisation, the patriarchy is being broken down. Energetic young females are beginning to share influence with older male members. When you’re in a tough fight for a common cause, you can’t afford to be choosy about where the best ideas are coming from,” she said.
Various political party leaders have also made their stance public. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan condemned the forceful evictions that made hundreds of people homeless. He criticised the state’s stance reflected in the poorly planned eviction strategy, whereby relocation was not made part of the process.
Shocked at the alleged brutality of the events in I-11/A, Khan said, “If there are criminal elements in an area, they should be arrested and cases should be filed against them instead of destroying their homes and belongings.”
Really, the first logical argument I’ve heard in this case.
Do you support the demolition of illegal katchi abadis without proper arrangements for relocation of their dwellers? What is your take on this issue? Do let us know in the comments section below.
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Shame on Govt on the brutal act of eviction of poor people. Govt should have provided an alternative accommodation before the operation. Around Islamabad there are Hundreds of illegal housing societies but CDA closed their eyes on them because they bribe CDA officials.
People who illegally occupies someone’s land are poor, right? so maybe we all should start doing it and start building homes where ever we could find place in Islamabad or in any other city of Pakistan. Or hope for the Government to provide us with homes in replacement of our illegally occupied homes/land.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN.
Thank You.
The inner hatred you possess on the topic in discussion is shameful. You simply love to kill the bird because its allowed and you consider it your right to avail such an opportunity. And while doing so, you are alright with forgetting the morals and principals.
We are really good in deviating from the questions being asked. It was just a question if its allowed in Pakistan to occupy anyone’s land and get sympathize from millions of ignorant people like yourself (truthseeker) who doesn’t have anything on stake, just wanna spread their illiteracy to others as well. Feel sorry for your lack of information and experience.
Thank You.
These people has lived here for as long, probably longer than other High Class Isloos, and the responsibility lies on Islamabad to provide them shelter. It is not about any forced eviction of the poor who have nowhere else to go but, forced eviction of the “Afghan Refugees” who are living on people’s plots who have paid for them since ages and waiting to be developed by CDA and handed over to them.