I-11 slum dwellers waiting for plots
By SIKANDER SHAHEEN August 18, 2008 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.
Time and again, it is witnessed that government does not offer any resistance while slums come into existence, but are abolished very irrationally without any alternative accommodation being provided to dwellers. “We had a ray of hope when we heard that plots have been allotted to Christians and Multan based settlers. But it seems that we have to bear with our ill fate forever”, said Ilyas Khan.
The residents of I-11 slum mentioned that lack of basic amenities in the area include absence of electricity, water and sanitation. “Only a few ‘privileged ones’ among us are lucky enough to use batteries and generators to get electricity for a couple of hours daily”, they mentioned.
Few months back, the death of three infants had been reported who died of suffocation and intense heat due to the absence of electricity. “Such incidents keep on happening here but no body bothers”, said Fiaz, the father of one such deceased infant.
The settlers also complained that the officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA) keep on threatening the settlers of toppling down their residences and demand money in return. Moreover, it is learnt that police officials also terrify the dwellers whenever any crime is committed in the nearby areas. The slum-settlers are arrested and released only after the payment of bribe.
“We are poor people, we cannot pay bribes every now and then”, they lamented. “Whenever we have to construct a new hut, we have to pay money to CDA officials”.
Most of the dwellers work on daily wages and do not earn more than Rs 100 daily. Their complaints regarding plot allotments, lack of basic amenities and harassment on part of governmental officials have always been given a cold shoulder by the government.