2 policemen injured as residents protest against anti-encroachment drive in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Two policemen were injured as the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) anti-encroachment operation in the capital’s Noorpur Shahan area was met with strong protest from residents.

As the anti-encroachment drive began, enraged individuals torched two of the CDA’s vehicles in protest, with authorities resorting to tear-gas shelling to disperse the people.

More police deployment was also sought to control the law and order situation.

The development comes a day after a protest staged by the slum dwellers of Allama Iqbal Colony at G-7 forced the CDA to postpone its operation. When the enforcement wing started the operation, the residents resisted and created a law and order situation, forcing the team to leave after sealing two structures.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised concerns over the CDA’s encroachment drives.

Last month, the HRCP, along with several civil society organisations, called on authorities to immediately halt all planned and ongoing eviction operations in Islamabad’s low-income areas and katchi abadis (informal settlements).

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