More than 30 shanty settlements in Islamabad and its outskirts may be providing refuge to extremists and terrorists, camouflaging themselves among their permanent inhabitants before and after hitting their targets.

According to unofficial data, 28 katchi abadis in the capital shelter more than 70,000 dwellers in the worst living conditions.

Slums are an essential part of the cities around the world. The people living in the katchi abadis provide services to 'Baboos' of the capital by working as their drivers, cooks, maids, servants and security guards. Some of these slums are dominated by Christians who mostly work in the sanitation department of the city's civic body.

Although the katchi abadis are located under the nose of the police and security departments, they are overlooked by these departments, even after incidents clearly indicating presence of outlaws and terrorists in these colonies.

Months ago terrorists had assassinated a serving brigadier at G-11 Service Road close to unplanned settlement in village Mehrabad. At that time some eyewitnesses had told police that they had seen assassins coming out of the village before targeting the army official in the morning.

If the authorities comb these settlements thoroughly, they may end up snaring some “most wanted” terrorists. “All katchi abadis should be searched as there is possibility that some terrorists may be hiding these,” says Hafeez Ahmed, a senior citizen.

Some of the slums in the outskirts of Islamabad are an easy hideout of terrorists. Unplanned settlement in Mehrabad, where sectors G-12 and F-12 are to be developed, has become a constant source of threat and danger for the security of the people and the capital.

Some senior citizens believe that – and it has been reported many times in newspapers – Islamabad has been surrounded by Taliban, with the fears that most probably they are also living inside the capital.

One may like to believe that police must have complete data of slum dwellers and that they are strictly warned not to give accommodation on rent to any stranger. And if they do they must be providing complete record about tenants to the concerned police station. But the situation is far from ideal.

Visit to some shanty settlements revealed that anyone can get rooms or a house on rent, which ranges from Rs1,500 to R5,000 per month. Nobody bothers who is living in their neighbourhood and what business they do.

Syed Kashif Rizvi, a resident of G-7, complained that some outlaws and gamblers in a nearby katchi abadi come close to the residential sector every night and create nuisance for the residents. “They seem to be drunk and shout while playing cards throughout the night, but police do not take any action.”

According to the CDA department concerned, the Katchi Abadi Cell (KAC), an illegal settlement is not termed 'katchi abadi'. It is deemed a slum, given the deplorable living conditions.

What sets a katchi abadi apart from a slum? To find out one has to go back in recent history.In 1985, the government ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to recognise all the katchi abadis which the KAC claimed, were only 10 at the time. Ten years on after the policy in 1995, it was decided that the abadis would be rehabilitated and upgraded. A survey was conducted the same year by an organisation called 'Paidar', which was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Consequently the people living in abadis covered by the survey were given ownership rights. Those not covered failed to get recognition.

In Islamabad 10 'katchi abadis' with a legal status are: Tent Colony G-7/1, G-7/2, G-7/3, G-8/1, F-6/2, France Colony F-7/4, Haq Bahu I-11/4, Dhoke Najju I-10/4, Essa Nagri I-9/1 and Muslim Colony, Bari Imam. Most of them are provided civic amenities such as electricity, gas and water.

It was also decided that four of the abadis would be relocated to Farash Town and the rest would be upgraded. The four to be relocated as per a Model Urban Shelter Project were I-10/4, I-11/4, I-9/1 and Muslim Colony. The decision to relocate them was taken because some of these settlements were located in sensitive areas, some on planned CDA plots and others came in the right of way of roads.