November 14, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 8, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The All-Pakistan Alliance of Kutcha Abadis on Wednesday held a demonstration outside the Capital Development Authority (CDA) office against the demolition of 300 houses in France Colony.

Some 120 protesters from the F-7/4 Kutcha Abadi (France Colony) condemned the CDA for violating the national policy on Kutcha Abadis announced by President General Musharraf in January 2000.

They said their houses were being razed on the pretext that they were too close to the drain which runs across the settlement. Owners of the houses facing demolition consented to shift their houses, but the CDA was not providing alternative locations within the settlement or elsewhere, they added.

The demonstrators said the CDA had committed on many occasions to provide alternative place to those whose houses were being demolished.

The federal cabinet had decided that no summary evictions should take place without provision of alternative shelter to the people.

Chief organiser of the alliance, Abida Bashir, and president of France Colony Resident’s Organization, Saba Mark also spoke on the occasion.

They said the Kutcha Abadi dwellers had the same rights as of those living in large houses in Islamabad and demanded that the CDA should cater to the needs of the people.

They maintained that the Kutcha Abadi dwellers were compelled to purchase basic facilities such as electricity and gas at commercial rates, significantly higher than domestic rates.

They announced that they would stage a sit-in outside the parliament house if their demands were not met.