Human rights minister Mazari orders inquiry into demolition of informal settlement in Islamabad
CDA had on Thursday demolished 75 homes at an informal settlement in the federal capital
April 18, 2020
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari has ordered an inquiry into the demolition of 75 huts in a G-11/4 slum by the Islamabad administration without the issuance of legal notice, The News reported on Saturday.
She said that action would be taken immediately if any police official was found involved in the incident. The minister said the 75 evicted families would be also be provided shelter and compensation at the earliest.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat said the official, who sanctioned the operation, had been suspended. He added that the authorities conducting the the operation said the area was a den of professional beggars, however, the inquiry would find out the facts.
On Thursday, a team of the Capital Development Authority had demolished a string of homes set up at the informal settlement. Police had accompanied the CDA on the mission.
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Awami Workers Party Punjab President Ammar Rashid had shared a video of the incident on social networking platform Twitter. Rashid expressed dismay that the homes of the poor were being demolished in the middle of a virus lockdown.
"Behold the 'pro-poor' government of @ImranKhanPTI. This is G-11 katchi abadi, Islamabad (populated by the poorest daily wagers) where dozens of homes are being bulldozed, making hundreds homeless in the middle of a pandemic. This is beyond disgusting," he said.
Originally published in The News
