Islamabad, April 17 (NationPress) Protests have erupted in the capital of Pakistan following the initiation of demolition activities by civic authorities, targeting informal settlements, particularly a neighbourhood predominantly inhabited by Christians. This action has drawn significant criticism from various human rights organizations, as reported by Christian Daily International.

Earlier this week, clashes occurred between residents and officials in Allama Iqbal Colony, also known as Sharper Colony, when teams from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and law enforcement arrived with heavy machinery to dismantle what they labeled as illegal structures.

Approximately 1,300 families reside in this area, most of whom are Christians engaged in low-wage jobs, such as sanitation and domestic work. Community leaders reported that tensions escalated into a five-hour standoff as officials attempted to carry out the demolition.

Local Christian leader Shahzad Sahotra stated, "The government teams locked down a scrapyard, broke into several Christian homes, and tossed household belongings onto the streets before retreating due to strong resistance." He indicated that multiple homes and small businesses along the colony's main thoroughfare have been marked for future demolition, instilling fear among residents who have called the area home for over two decades.

Sahotra emphasized, "For families who have toiled for years to construct these homes with meager earnings, eviction without compensation is devastating." He added, "Many have nowhere else to relocate to." The CDA has unveiled plans to clear at least four informal settlements in Islamabad, with several of these neighbourhoods housing Christian residents.

Community leaders have voiced concerns that the resumption of these operations has heightened anxiety among the populace, especially daily wage earners who lack the financial resources to find alternative housing. Sahotra noted that such settlements often represent the only affordable housing options for minorities in Pakistan, who face significant social and economic barriers when accessing formal housing markets.

Violent confrontations erupted on April 14 between Muslim residents and police following similar anti-encroachment operations in the Noorpur Shahan area. At least eight police officers and several residents sustained injuries as protesters clashed with law enforcement, throwing stones and setting two official vehicles ablaze.

In response, police deployed tear gas and conducted baton charges to disperse the crowds, after which authorities reportedly demolished an entire neighbourhood. Local media has indicated that over 13,000 homes have been destroyed in the area over the past six months.

Human rights organizations have condemned the CDA's operations, highlighting their disproportionate impact on the urban poor, including religious minorities.

During a meeting organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad on April 13, activists, lawyers, and community representatives urged higher courts to enforce a 2015 Supreme Court stay order that prohibits forced evictions of informal settlements without due process. The HRCP characterized the CDA's tactics as "anti-poor" and criticized the authorities for their failure to provide adequate low-cost housing options for the populace.