ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The residents of Quaid-i-Azam Colony katchi abadi in Chaklala Scheme-III staged a protest demonstration against eviction threats by the principal of a local college and military officials including the station commander Rawalpindi.

According to a press release, the demonstration was held under the All-Pakistan Alliance of Katchi Abadis. Speaking on the occasion, alliance Chairman Aasim Sajjad Akhtar claimed that the slum was protected under the National Katchi Abadi Policy announced by President Pervez Musharraf in January 2001.

He said the government was bound to grant ownership rights to the katchi abadi dwellers under the policy. However, in most cities, he added, cantonment authorities were not following the policy. Alliance organizer Faiz Alam said the threats issued by the college principal and the military officials were arbitrary and smacked of abuse of power.

He said the katchi abadi had been in existence for the last over 80 years and the residents had documentary proof to this effect. He lamented the fact that the residents were being warned that their homes would have to be cleared to make way for a college playground.