The Chief Minister (CM)’s Secretariat put the ball in the court of the Lahore District Coordination Office (DCO) on Tuesday to redress the complaint of the 800 residents of the Ittehad Colony (Gaju Mata) Rohi Nullah, who have been left shelter-less after a demolition operation by the Nishtar Town administration.
CM Secretariat Director Public Affairs Bashir Ahmed Gondal issued directions to the Lahore DCO Lahore to take “appropriate action as per law and policy to redress their grievances” on an application submitted by the displaced residents of the colony to the Punjab CM. The application submitted by the residents’ states, “It is our urgent plea that notice be taken of this in light of the Punjab Katchi Abadi Act, 1992, which recognises any settlement of more than 40 houses and guarantees alternate settlement before demolition.”
The decision was taken after over 200 residents of the squatter, including women, children and elderly members, gathered outside the Sharif residence on Model Town on Tuesday to protest the “unannounced” demolition of their houses. Protestors demanded resettlement and compensation for being displaced without notice and without alternate location. The intense heat caused an elderly man to collapse on the road. Residents complained that it had been three days and nights since they had been rendered homeless and were living exposed to the elements.
Police agreed to let community leaders meet CM Secretariat officials. Women Workers’ Helpline President Azra Shad, Joint Action Committee Rohi Nullah, Ittehad Colony head Salamat Pardesi, Pastor Younas and others discussed the matter with officials, after which they were asked to file a formal application. The application submitted by the residents, available with Pakistan Today, was approved (Diary No 39470, Dated: 13-09-11), with residents directed to meet the Lahore DCO Lahore who has been directed to redress their grievances.
