Islamabad Scores of women and children of the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Model Urban Shelter Project in Alipur Farash held a protest demonstration against the virtual non-provision of gas and water in the settlement of more than 2,000 homes. The affected residents have warned that they would block the main Lehtrar Road indefinitely in the first week of the new year if immediate action is not taken to redress their plight. The demonstration was organized by the All-Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis. Local organiser of the Alliance, Rukhsana Qazi, said that the immediate surrounding areas of Farash Town have enjoyed virtually uninterrupted gas supply while the poor resettled residents of the federal capital’s katchi abadis are being completely deprived of the facilities. She said that all that was required was for a gas loadshedding schedule to be announced so that arrangements could be made by individual households accordingly. Other office-bearers of the alliance lamented that even after being shifted into a so-called Model Project by the CDA, the poor residents of Islamabad are still being treated as second-class citizens. They said that the CDA has still not installed proper sewerage in Alipur Farash and water supply is also pathetic. They said that they are left with no choice but to come out onto the streets. In this regard all responsibility will be borne by the relevant authorities, they added.
