LAHORE, Feb 11: President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the railways authorities not to demolish Katchi Abadis on the railways land and to initiate the process of giving ownership rights to dwellers.

Talking to Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Asif Hashmi at Governor’s House here on Monday, the president expressed concern over the plight of people in slum areas.

“Not a single dweller should be displaced from his residence in Katchi Abadis and the railways authorities should initiate a process of giving them ownership rights,” Mr Hashmi quoted the president as saying.

He said the president had also ordered the launching of a free “Mohtarma Benazir Bus Service” from all stops of the shuttle train between Shahdara and Kot Lakhpat.

He announced that no fare should be charged for two months for the shuttle service.

The president also visited the Services Hospital and inquired after the health of Shaukat Basra, PPP deputy parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly, who was injured when he was beaten up by police when he was with protesting doctors outside the hospital on Sunday.

The president said Mr Basra was a valuable asset of the PPP and he knew how to protect workers of his party.

MINISTER SWORN IN: Earlier in the day, President Zardari administered oath to Senator Abbas Khan Afridi as federal minister. The oath-taking ceremony, held at Governor’s House, was attended by Punjab Governor Ahmed Mehmood and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The president and Bilawal Bhutto also met the governor’s sons, Syed Mustafa, Murtaza Mehmood and Ali Mehmood who have recently joined the PPP. They discussed political matters relating to Rahimyar Khan and south Punjab.

The PPP chairman presided over a meeting of party workers from Faisalabad division at the Bilawal House in Bahria Town. He listened to their problems and asked them to prepare for the coming election.