ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: The activists of All-Pakistan Alliance for Kutchi Abadis held a protest demonstration in Sector G-7/2 in the wake of demolition of at least 10 houses by the Capital Development Authority.

Hundreds of women, men and children from the G-7/2 colony along with representatives of a number of slums in the twin cities participated in the demonstration.

They chanted slogans against what they termed highhandedness of the CDA, demanding implementation of the National Kutchi Abadi Policy 2001. The demonstrators were led by the alliance chairman, Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, and divisional office-bearers.

Speaking on the occasion, local residents pointed out that the CDA's arbitrary numbering policy had disenfranchised a large number of deserving slum dwellers. They said at least 25 per cent of Kutchi Abadi residents were subjected to eviction because the CDA's survey excluded them for no apparent reason though they had been living in the locality for over two decades.

They compared their plight to that of hundreds of other kutchi abadi residents in the city. The residents said the demolitions took place when majority of the dwellers were at their workplaces, therefore, no resistance took place.

They also pointed out that a number of residents of the slum were still living in makeshift tents since the floods of July 2001. The alliance chairman said a large number of affected persons were employed by the CDA. He said it was a tragedy that the government was demolishing the homes of those people who were providing it services at extremely low rates.