LAHORE, Aug 12: A busload of Chhanga Manga forest beldars staged demonstrations on Monday in the provincial metropolis to condemn the demolition of their colony housing 1,000 families.

The protesters carried banners and raised slogans against the Forest Department secretary. They also participated in a protest meeting of the Pakistan Workers’ Confederation at Labour Hall immediately after arrival in the city.

They then staged demonstrations in front of the Lahore Press Club and various newspaper offices.

The beldars said that they and their families had been living in the Chhanga Manga forest colony since independence.

The department, they said, had now ordered them to vacate the houses and started demolition to expedite ejectment. Fifteen houses, they said, had already been demolished, rendering the occupants homeless.

They appealed to the Punjab governor to intervene saying they were living hand to mouth due to meagre salaries and could not afford to exorbitant rents.

Also, they said, enough private houses were not available in the area to accommodate 1,000 families being displaced.