ISLAMABAD: Senators in the opposition as well as the treasury benches lambasted the government on Monday, for using ‘brutal force’ against poor slum-dwellers in Sector I-11 and registering cases against them under the anti-terrorism act (ATA).

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman raised the issue, saying the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) actions discriminate against the poor. “Rich people, including bureaucrats, encroach upon public land in Islamabad. But the CDA has only taken notice of the settlements made by poor people,” she said.

Senator Rehman, speaking on “a matter of public importance” called upon the government to pay compensation to the slum dwellers. She also condemned reports of members of civil society organisations and Awami Workers Party being booked under the ATA for protesting forced evictions by the CDA.

Baz Muhammad Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP) alleged that the government made a false claim that Afghan nationals were living in the katchi abadi. He said over 10,000 residents of the said slum possessed national identity cards and 4,000 of them had cast their votes in the last general elections.

“Even if they are occupying the land illegally, they should be removed through legal means,” he said.

Usman Kakar of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), a partner of the PML-N at the centre as well as in Balochistan, said the police action in Islamabad ‘was an action against Pakhtuns’.

Mr Kakar said the government, through this action, has declared that Islamabad is a city for the rich and poor people have no right over their country’s capital. He alleged that Pakhtuns are being targeted in operations, all over the country.

The PkMAP senator said the government allots plots to retired bureaucrats, generals and parliamentarians and the same should be done for the poor. He also criticised the media and human rights organisations for their silence on the issue.

Mr Kakar ridiculed the government’s claim that the operation was being carried out against those involved in the sale of drugs and arms.

“Everyone knows drug barons and arms sellers live in big bungalows, not mud huts. Arms are being traded under the nose of intelligence agencies and heads of some institutions are involved in the drug business,” he alleged.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani later stopped the members from speaking on the matter, saying that the house would hold a full-fledged debate on the issue on Tuesday (today) on an adjournment motion moved by Sitara Ayaz of the ANP.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2015

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