IHC directs government to abolish illegal settlements, says it is political administration’s job if slum dwellers need to be shifted to alternative place
Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the removal of slums in the federal capital and has also sought a report from the Interior Ministry within a week.
A single bench of IHC, comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui took up the case for hearing Wednesday.
Justice Siddiqui observed that several case of katchi abadis were being brought to the court with the slum dwellers pleading regularization. On the other hand, they had no record pertaining to CDA and the city administration, he said.
“Katchi abadis are completely illegal so much so that these are called Torabora and Sohrab Goth in the backdrop of terror threats. It seems as if the institutions have lost their writ and cannot even get illegal houses abolished,” he said.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Tariq Khokhar told the court that the government had started a survey of slums some which had completed.
Justice Siddiqui said, “It is our bad luck that such persons penetrate into the institutions, do illegal jobs and malign the institutions. Had the intents of these people been good, these illegal settlements would never have been set up.”
“The courts have to do its job in consonance with the law. If inmates of these illegal katchi abadis have to be settled in some alternative place then it is the responsibility of political people and administration to do the needful,” the court observed.
The court adjourned the hearing of case till April, 23.
