CDA foils bid to occupy land in Sector G-9/1

[Salman]

Islamabad : The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Administration foiled another attempt from the dwellers of the ‘Maira Badi’ to occupy a piece of land along a nullah in Sector G-9/1.

A large number of families belonging to the Christian community previously had attempted to take over a big area in Sector G-9/4 after cutting a number of trees of the jungle while taking cover of the ‘Rimsha incident’, a few months back. However, they were removed from the area following strong protest lodged by residents of the sector.

This time again the residents of the Sector G-9/1 across the same nullah noticed activities of a large of number people, finding them cutting trees to start raising their slum houses there. “They have cut down a large number of trees and bushes from the area and are trying to occupy the place,” Muhammad Naseer, a resident of the sector said.

“We have removed the people busy in clearing the area from trees on Thursday with the assistance of the Islamabad Administration and will not allow to occupy the place illegally,” said CDA Deputy Director (Enforcement) Malik Attaullah.

Around 200 members of the Christian community including men and women staged daylong sit in front of the CDA Headquarters. The sit-in continued till late Friday evening, but they could not meet any senior official of the civic body.

A senior official of the Islamabad Police when contacted by ‘The News’ said the members of the Christian community were facing no threats at ‘Maira Badi’ and they were using ‘Rimsha incident’ as a cover to set up their permanent dwelling in the heart of city.

A CDA official said that under no rules, another slum area could be allowed in Islamabad city saying that most of the people who were trying to settle in the heart of the city did not belong to ‘Maira Badi’ area. “There is no justification in their demand,” he said.

A resident of Sector G-9/1 feared that some CDA official might be behind encouraging Christians to set up a new dwelling, but the illegal activity was stopped only when residents of the sector took notice.