I-11 slum dwellers waiting for plots

ISLAMABAD - Unlike the allotments of plots to the habitants of slums of different communities residing in Islamabad, the ‘Kutchi Abadi’ of I-11 can only wish to get a plot on behalf of the government to get a permanent shelter.
It is learnt that these dwellers are living in extremely poor living conditions and are deprived of basic necessities of survival. The representatives of the slums of the adjoining areas of sector I-11 talked to TheNation to reveal their miseries.
The dwellers mentioned that government has allotted plots to Christian Community, Multan based community settled at the outskirts of Motorway and the habitants of other slums but the slum of I-11 had been neglected. So far, there has not been any scheme on the cards, being initiated by the government regarding allotment of plots to the settlers of I-11 slum. “We are constantly harassed and terrified by some government departments that our huts would be bulldosed since we don’t have any permanent and registered residence”, said Sher Afzal from Mohmand Agency.
The residents of the I-11 slum include people from FATA that comprises Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency, Waziristan, and Afghan immigrants. The settlers in the area who have been living there for over two decades are still waiting for their recognition. “We can only pray that plots are given to us so that we can somehow manage to get some rights, as enjoyed by other citizens of lower-class of Islamabad”, said Abdullah.
“The governmental authorities do not stop the dwellers while slums are being formed and after the passage of several years, the government threatens to bulldoze our huts. This is not fair, this is stark injustice”, he added. The settlers asked the government to provide them alternative accommodation whenever the existing slums are wiped out in the name of encroachments.