Eviction Plans in Islamabad on Hold Amidst Protests from Christian Community
(Photo: Christian Daily International)
Plans to evict approximately 25,000 individuals, predominantly Christians, from informal settlements in Islamabad have been temporarily paused by local authorities. The initiative, which targets settlements on government land, has sparked significant resistance from the affected communities.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently stated that the government has initiated efforts to clear illegal settlements on government property in the capital. Naqvi emphasized, “Wherever there is government land that has been encroached, it will be vacated.”
The eviction plan has prompted widespread protests, with many Christian residents expressing that poverty and systemic discrimination leave them with few alternatives for housing.
The situation has garnered international attention, including from the British parliament’s All Party Parliamentary Group for Pakistani Minorities.
Jim Shannon MP, chair of the group, highlighted the plight of these communities, stating, “The Christian families living in Islamabad’s informal settlements are among the country’s most vulnerable communities. Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees equality and protection for minorities. Any development initiative must uphold these commitments.”
Shannon further urged authorities to “halt demolitions, consult residents, and ensure that no family is left without shelter or support.”
The Rimsha Colony, a settlement named after a Christian girl falsely accused of blasphemy, is among those threatened by the eviction plans. This colony became a refuge for many Christians fleeing persecution.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the government had previously played a role in relocating Christians to this area.
Imran Shahzad Sahotra, a community leader, commented to Christian Daily International, saying that residents have limited options due to economic hardship and discrimination in the housing market. “Issuing directives to slum dwellers to vacate the land without offering them alternative shelters is a great injustice … People are settled here and have no other options,” he stated.
Despite the protests leading to a temporary halt, reports indicate that the eviction plans are still being considered, partly to facilitate the construction of a new road connecting two sectors of Islamabad.
An unnamed official from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) revealed to UCA News that the evictions will “definitely proceed”.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
