Islamabad Sector I-11: Operation against illegal Katchi Abadi continues for 3rd consecutive day

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) continued its operation against illegal settlement of Afghan Katchi Abadi in sector I-11 for the third consecutive day. The CDA's teams on Saturday backed by heavy contingent of police demolished more than 80 percent of the illegal structures during the ongoing operation. The residents had voluntarily completed almost all the evacuation of houses of I-11 slum and the authority might complete the operation on Sunday (today), a CDA official said.
The authority did not face any resistance from slum-dwellers on second and third day of operation; however, clashes between police and the residents were witnessed on the first day of operation. Police baton-charged and used teargas shelling. The police also used water canons to disperse the protesters. The protesters pelted stones at police due to which some police, CDA employees and protesters got injured.
The city police have arrested over 70 protesters and produced them before the court. The court sent them on physical remand. The CDA spokesman said Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal has directed departments concerned to ensure transportation facility to all the residents of the illegal slums (Katchi Abadi) for shifting their luggage after evacuation.
He said the chairman during a meeting with CDA board members at the site directed enforcement director to complete the demolition of the illegal slums till Sunday. CDA Member Administration & Estate Ameer Ahmed Ali, Member Environment Syed Mustafain Kazmi, Member Engineering Shahid Sohail, Deputy Commissioner, ICT and other senior officers of the CDA and ICT attended the meeting, he said. He said the authority had set up a cell at the site to ensure speedy provision of transport to the residents for transportation of their luggage.
The chairman said the Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) had been directed to remove the debris from the site and level the area paving the way for development of area. The fencing of the evacuated land is also in progress to discourage the re-emergence of the encroachments. It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) April last year directed the CDA to prepare a strategy for removal of illegal slums in the federal capital.
The authority on June 9, 2015 reportedly submitted to court a four-phase plan for the removal of illegal slums in the capital. The CDA informed the court that the plan would be executed with the help of Rangers, Islamabad Police and district administration. According to plan, 42 slums in different parts of Islamabad will be demolished while allocating two to 10 days for each Katchi Abadi.