Dozen more Bari Imam villages face demolition

The Capital Development Authority (CDA), with the assistance of Islamabad administration, has completed bulldozing in 14 village areas of the historic 300-year-old model village of Bari Imam and Noorpur Shahan under a special project. Despite strong resistance from residents, the villages of Malpur and Noori Bagh were also fully demolished. Authorities have now decided to begin bulldozing in the remaining 12 villages of Bari Imam from next week, including Dori Bagh, Opera Shar, and adjoining settlements. Administrative and policing preparations for the operation have been completed. Residents of the recently demolished areas are currently engaged in clearing debris from their homes and retrieving valuables such as fans, air conditioners, refrigerators, beds, kitchen items, charpoys, and sofas with the help of laborers. Doors, windows, iron gates, and grills are also being removed and sold at low prices. Meanwhile, a large number of contractors dealing in construction material from Rawalpindi and Islamabad have arrived in these devastated localities. They are purchasing bricks, iron structures, windows, gates, and damaged household items at throwaway prices. Contractors and investors carrying large amounts of cash are making deals with residents, while loaders and trucks have been mobilised to transport the material to Rawalpindi within hours. The trade of salvaged building materials has peaked in these demolished settlements. According to locals, four categories of residents live in Bari Imam and surrounding areas, including families with centuries-old ownership, families who had received compensation awards but remained, occupants who settled during the era of General Ziaul Haq and expanded during General Musharraf's period, and those who purchased land—many of whom possess registered documents. They alleged that the government is treating all residents as encroachers, including those allotted plots by CDA itself. All villages and central markets in front of Bari Imam shrine have already been demolished. The next phase will begin on the opposite side of the shrine and is expected to be completed by April 30. After April 30, operations will shift to five Christian informal settlements within Islamabad sectors, including I-9 and F-6, where red notices have already been issued to residents with a two-month evacuation target.