LAHORE, Aug 5: The decision taken recently at a high-level meeting in Karachi, which concluded that the demolition of houses and mass eviction of people to make way for the Lyari Expressway would continue, comes as a saddening one for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, says an HRCP press release.

“During the last few weeks, various studies have highlighted the scale of the suffering being inflicted by the actions taken to clear people living in kutchi abadis from land being taken over for the construction of the Expressways,” says the HRCP. “At least 200,000 people will be dislodged and the houses where they live demolished. In addition, at least 36,000 commercial enterprises, providing jobs to over 40,000 workers are also to be brought down. Nearly 40,000 families have in fact already been evicted and their homes bulldozed, despite protests.”

The press release further says:

“It is unfortunate that no decisions have been taken to provide relief for these persons or to rehabilitate them suitably. Reports that these people are being forced to move to barren land on the outskirts of the city, with no civic amenities and no employment opportunities, highlight the suffering of such persons and the extent to which the lives of millions are being disrupted.

“HRCP is not opposed to development projects or work aimed at uplifting civic infrastructure. However, when undertaking such work, it is essential that the interests of the impoverished be safeguarded at all costs and additional difficulties not inflicted upon them. Forcible evictions and the demolition of homes can as such never be condoned.

“HRCP again demands that the Lyari Expressway project be reviewed and means to avoid imposing extreme difficulties on hapless citizens be found without delay.”