KARACHI, May 8: Chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has condemned the demolition of houses and dislodging of the residents of Sikandar Goth, and demanded an immediate halt to this inhuman drive.

In a statement, issued from Bilawal House on Monday, the former prime minister denounced the move as ‘inhuman, callous and politically motivated’, and asked the rulers not to go too far in their pursuit of power and pelf.

She said it was most unfortunate that the regime had been targeting and dislodging poor people, and had already razed nearly one hundred villages.

She said that most katchi abadis had been regularized in the past but the land mafia wanted the original and genuine occupants of such localities dislodged.

Ms Bhutto also condemned the administration's highhandedness and use of force against the PPP workers who had gone to Sikandar Goth to express solidarity with the poor people. She recalled that during the Zia dictatorship also, attempts had been made to demolish some village. However, such attempts were foiled by PPP workers, she said, and warned that this time again, all such attempts would be foiled.

She urged the civil society and human rights bodies to take notice of the inhuman and cruel act.