Human rights organisations, political groups, and representatives of informal settlements have warned that continued demolition drives and evictions in Islamabad could trigger a wider social crisis, urging authorities to immediately halt the displacement of low-income residents. The concerns were voiced during an emergency meeting attended by representatives of the All-Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the National Commission for Justice and Peace, the Awami Workers Party (M), and several other social and political organisations.
Participants reviewed reports of recent demolition operations in a number of informal settlements, including Allama Iqbal Colony, Rimsha Colony, Dhobi Ghat in G-6/2, Muslim Colony, and katchi abadis located in sectors I-9 and I-10. According to the organisations, demolition drives carried out by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration have rendered approximately 50,000 working-class residents homeless. The authorities have not publicly confirmed the figure.
The participants urged the Supreme Court and other relevant judicial forums to take notice of what they described as repeated violations of court stay orders against summary evictions. They also questioned what they termed the unequal application of legal protections, arguing that authorities had reportedly intervened to halt eviction measures at One Constitution Avenue while similar relief had not been extended to residents of katchi abadis and long-established villages facing demolition.
The organisations maintained that successive governments and the CDA had failed to adequately address the housing needs of low-income communities, contributing to the expansion of informal settlements across the federal capital. They further alleged that while katchi abadis were frequently treated as illegal encroachments, large-scale housing schemes and land acquisitions by private developers continued to receive official backing.
Participants also called upon members of the National Assembly and Senate to oppose ongoing demolition drives, arguing that the displacement of thousands of residents raised broader concerns about housing rights, livelihoods, and democratic representation in Islamabad. The meeting concluded with a demand for an immediate suspension of eviction operations and the formulation of a comprehensive housing policy aimed at protecting vulnerable communities while addressing the city's growing housing needs. No immediate response from the CDA or ICT administration was available regarding the concerns raised by the organisations.
