The Shadow of ‘Progress’: Islamabad’s Katchi Abadis and the Human Rights Crisis
By Tariq Mehmood Ghouri
ISLAMABAD: Behind the manicured green belts and modernist architecture of Pakistan’s capital lies a starkly different reality—one composed of mud-brick walls, open sewers, and a deep-seated fear of the state.
Islamabad’s katchi abadis (informal settlements) are no longer just a failure of urban planning; they have become the final sanctuary for thousands fleeing a rising tide of religious extremism in the heart of Punjab. Moderating a recent seminar titled “Beyond the Notice: Human Stories Behind Urban Evictions in Islamabad” at The Black Hole, human rights activist and Information Secretary of the PPP Human Rights Cell, Tariq Mehmood Ghouri, highlighted the sensitive human dimensions of this crisis.
He noted that for decades, the migration of the Christian community from districts such as Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Sargodha has been driven by a struggle for survival rather than mere economic necessity. Ghouri, who is also a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), clarified that the majority of residents in settlements like Sector H-9, Rimsha Colony, and Sharper Colony are families who fled blasphemy allegations and forced conversions in rural areas. For them, Islamabad represents a “haven” where communal strength offers a fragile shield against the mob.
The leadership of the HRCP took a firm stand against the state’s current policies during the session. Harris Khalique, Secretary-General of the HRCP, emphasised that these settlements are a “human rights crisis” rather than a simple housing issue.
He remarked that if these 500,000 workers were to leave the city, the capital would grind to a halt, as these are the people who provide sanitation, gardening, and other essential services. He condemned the CDA’s double standards, where the poor are evicted as “encroachers” while the illegal constructions of the elite are regularised.
Linking the right to shelter with human dignity, Munizae Jahangir, Co-Chair of the HRCP, stated that when the state fails to provide a roof and then forcibly throws citizens onto the street, it is a flagrant violation of Article 9 (Right to Life) of the Constitution. She argued that the state must immediately pivot from “eviction” to a policy of “resettlement.”
During the event, Tariq Mehmood Ghouri also praised the constructive role of the press, extending special gratitude to Daily Dawn and its senior Islamabad Bureau journalist, Amir Wasim. Ghouri acknowledged that Dawn has been the only newspaper to consistently cover the plight of Islamabad’s slum dwellers daily, noting that such persistent reporting is what has brought this human tragedy to national and international attention.
However, the tragedy for these marginalised groups is compounded by the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) approach. Disregarding legal protocols, the CDA frequently issues mere three-day verbal warnings to residents. While the Urban Regeneration Regulations approved in February 2026 theoretically allow for in-situ upgrading—building flats on-site and providing 99-year leases—practical progress remains frustratingly slow.
Islamabad stands at a crossroads. It can continue to be a city of walls and exclusions, or it can honour its constitutional obligations to its most persecuted citizens. The message from activists like Tariq Mehmood Ghouri, Harris Khalique, and Munizae Jahangir is clear: ensuring complete resettlement before any operation is a constitutional obligation. A city that cannot provide a roof to those fleeing violence is a city that has lost its soul. The protection of these katchi abadis is not just a matter of urban planning; it is a matter of national conscience.