ISLAMABAD: Traffic remained out of gear on Sunday for almost two hours on the Islamabad Expressway as residents of Ghauri Town staged a protest demanding provision of utility connections.

The protesters called upon utility service providing agencies and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide electricity and gas connections to them. Led by Rana Abdul Qayum, Ifthikar Ahmed and others, they raised slogans and said getting utility connections was their fundamental right but connections were banned since 2015.

Ghauri Town is allegedly one of the largest illegal housing schemes in Islamabad which includes eight phases and during growth of the scheme the CDA failed to stop construction of houses. A few years ago, the authority had requested Iesco and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) not to provide utility connections to any illegal housing scheme.

Police used light tear gas to disperse the protesters. Assistant Commissioner (rural) Zukhruf Fida assured the protesters that the government will look into their demands. He told them that from April 3 there were chances that they would start getting relief.

Talking to Dawn, he said protesters not only kept the road blocked but also pelted stones at the police. “I myself received an injury as some elements tried to politicise the protest,” he said, adding he made every effort to get the road cleared as six ambulances were also stranded.

Like residents of Ghauri Town and other illegal housing schemes, residents of Bhara Kahu and other rural areas, including private landowners in Zone-III, are also facing issues while getting utility connections.

Local people on their own private land had constructed houses but because of CDA’s request to agencies and due to court orders they are not being provided utility connections. Operators of illegal housing schemes after selling plots to citizens have left them unattended.

“Instead of citizens, the operators of illegal housing schemes should be taken to task,” said an official of the civic agency.

The federal cabinet last year had formed a committee to propose recommendations to resolve the issue of utility connections, however, the issue remains unresolved causing problems for citizens.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2021