August 2, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The joint operation planned for Thursday at the site allocated for sector D-12, by the Capital Development Authority and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, has been postponed till Friday.

“The operation has been adjourned for Friday and it would be conducted at any cost,” personal staff officer of the Interior Minister, Moiuddin Wani told Dawn on Thursday.

A source said operation was cancelled due to the Soyem of those, who died during the clash between the villagers of Siri Saral and Pind Sangrial, local police, officials of the ICT and the CDA, on Monday.

The official in the ministry said development work would be started on Friday and resistance would not be tolerated. “If necessary, bunkers would be established at the site to meet any resistance,” he added.

Responding to a query, the official said the ministry and the departments concerned were not expecting any resistance from the villagers on the resumption of development work.

He said some 400 villagers allegedly involved in attacking the CDA officials and the police party, had been arrested and cases registered against them. “With the arrest of 400 people no vested interests and anti-state element was left in the area to offer resistance again,” he claimed.

He said the ICT administration and local police had completed their surveillance and reported that the situation would remain calm and peaceful, when development work was started again.

“The agencies have also completed their work and acquired complete information about those who could create trouble in the area. These people would be marked so that no further clash could take place,” the official added.

The official rejected the allegation that the director enforcement Chaudhry Mohammad Ali had first opened fire on the villagers after snatching a pistol from the SHO Golra, during the clash.

He said a SHO could never give his pistol even to the senior most police official, so how he could offer the pistol to an official of another department.

He also defended the local police and claimed that police were not the first to open fire, they resorted to firing, because they had no other option to save themselves and innocent people.

Talking about land acquisition and compensation given to the villagers of Siri Saral and Pind Sangrial for developing sector D-12, the official said each villagers have been given Rs275,000 in addition to a plot at sector I-14 and other places. “This compensation was more than any, ever given to the affected people in Islamabad,” he claimed.

When contacted, the CDA director administration, Major Baqir (retired) said confirmed that the development work could not start due to the Soyem of those died during the clash.

He confirmed that the operation would be conducted within the next 24 hours. “If the operation had been carried out during Soyem, another clash could have occurred,” he added.

Another CDA official said the construction machinery would be sent to the site on Thursday night along with huge contingent of police for its protection.