ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA)on Friday carried out a second phase of its operation to demolish houses of Afghan refugees in Islamabad’s poverty-stricken neighbourhood.
The CDA staff, backed by a heavy contingent of police and security personnel, did not face any resistance from the inhabitants, whose 150 illegal houses were demolished, according to a private television channel.
Officials said the residents were voluntarily evacuating their houses today, as CDA staff removed debris of houses from Sector I-11 of the federal capital.
Yesterday, the CDA team began tearing down the Afghan Basti area of the national capital when angry residents responded with protests and stone throwing.
During the grand operation, over 150 illegal houses were razed, recovering 200 kanal land from encroachers.
The sector I-11 is the largest slums area in the federal capital housing almost 20,000 inhabitants as the CDA claims that the area had been illegally occupied in 2005.
The city administration says it had sent them several notices and they were given ample time to vacate the land before initiating the operation.
Islamabad police has registered a case against 2000 persons for attack on police teams during the operation.
Officials said more than 70 persons have been arrested after registration of case under anti-terrorism. NNI