ISLAMABAD: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) on Sunday demanded resettlement of I-11 Kathi Abadi’s dwellers, whose mud houses have been razed in a recent operation by the Capital Development Authority.

In its ongoing anti-encroachment drive, the CDA demolished I-11 Kathi Abadi, the largest slum in the Federal Capital, and now intends to remove all other illegal slums.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, AWP President and senior Advocate Abid Hassan Minto and Party’s Sindh Chapter’s General Secretary Bakhshal Thalho criticised the CDA for demolishing the I-11 katchi abadi.

Mr Minto said that the AWP had already moved the Supreme Court against the I-11 operation. He said that petitioners would seek an immediate halt to the operation against katchi abadis, as well as compensation and resettlement for the evicted residents, justice for those whose rights had been usurped.

The senior lawyer said it was the responsibility of the state to provide shelter and other amenities to all its citizens, as specified in the constitution.

He said the manner in which the operation was carried out constituted a violation of the residents’ right to life, housing and privacy, and could not be justified under any legal pretext.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

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