Housing Demolished, Dignity Trampled: Why are Pakistan’s Working Class Dispensable?

The recent arrests of over 50 community members and activists in Islamabad’s D-13 sector highlights the deep-rooted issues in the housing sector of Pakistan. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been forcefully evicting working-class people from their homes and demolishing their houses, raising concerns about elitism and state attitudes towards protesters.

The areas surrounding the elite sectors of Islamabad, planned and developed by the CDA, are surrounded by sprawling settlements with low-cost and informal housing. These settlements are owned by politically connected influential locals who own large tracts of land. To meet the housing needs of the working-class people who provide domestic services, cleaning, plumbing, electrical services, driving, cooking, and other work to the elite sectors, small plots have been sold over time.

Working-class families living in sectors G-12, F-12, E-12, D-13, and others have sold their properties in their villages to afford housing in Islamabad, where they can find employment. Many of them also live in rented houses. The eviction and demolition of houses have also affected locals who have inhabited these lands for generations.

The CDA’s actions raise questions about the role of public officials in safeguarding the interests of all citizens, not just the rich. It seems that the housing needs of the working-class are not a priority for the government and the CDA. Instead, they are focused on developing elite sectors and catering to the needs of the rich and politically influential.

The forced eviction of working-class people from their homes is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan. Many cases have been reported in Karachi and other parts of the country, where the state has actively supported illegal land grabs by builders. The greed for land in Pakistan is evident, as the real estate sector is one of the most profitable and lucrative businesses, with the ability to hide illegal cash.

Acquire our monthly English and Urdu magazine promptly by accessing the Daraz App hyperlink!

https://www.daraz.pk/shop/3lyw0kmd

The plight of working-class people highlights the urgent need for extensive documentation in the real estate sector. Unless this is done, the poor will continue to fall prey to such scams, losing their source of livelihood. Moreover, the government must focus on developing affordable housing for the working-class, rather than catering only to the rich.

The recent arrests of community members and activists protesting against forced evictions show the state’s attitude towards dissenting voices. It is unacceptable to arrest peaceful protesters who are fighting for their right to housing. The government must respect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that their voices are heard.

The issue of housing and forced evictions is not just a matter of law and order. It is a moral issue that speaks to the heart of Pakistan’s societal values and priorities. It is time for the government to prioritize the needs of its working-class citizens and ensure that they have access to affordable housing and basic necessities.

On what moral high ground does the CDA have the audacity to destroy the homes of the working-class? While land transactions, lease agreements, and house sales have been taking place for decades, the authorities have been missing in action. The CDA has yet to take any action against local influential families who own palatial homes on these lands. Most of the action is taken against the poor. The sewerage system is inadequate, electricity connections are shared by up to ten families, and they have no gas connections.

Amid Pakistan’s current economic crisis, marked by unprecedented inflation rates and rising poverty, is it morally justifiable for the CDA to bulldoze the homes of the working-class and evict them from their homes? Isn’t it the state’s duty to ensure that its citizens have access to housing? Is the working class so disposable that they will be underpaid in the homes of elite Pakistanis, including bureaucrats, but their homes will be demolished mercilessly in the name of “law”? Is it illegal to be poor in Pakistan? Why isn’t the state making a concerted effort to enforce the legal minimum wage for the working class?

The state must safeguard the fundamental rights of its citizens. Article 9 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life, which the superior judiciary has interpreted to mean a life with dignity and access to essential amenities such as housing. Article 14 guarantees the dignity of man and privacy of the home as inviolable rights. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Pakistan has ratified, states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care.”

Furthermore, in the Shehla Zia vs Wapda case of 1992, a Supreme Court ruling cited an Indian supreme court verdict asserting that the right to life cannot be restricted to physical existence alone, but must also include adequate nutrition, clothing, and shelter. Importantly, in 2015, the Awami Workers Party filed a case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan after the Sector I-11 katchi abadi demolitions. The court ordered the government to stop demolishing katchi abadis and formulate a policy for affordable housing. Activist Ismat Shahjahan, who was arrested and later released in this operation, briefed the Senate human rights committee on this issue.

While Sindh and Punjab already have katchi abadi policies, the capital city does not. With a high rate of rural-to-urban migration and growing employment opportunities in Islamabad, parliament must urgently legislate a katchi abadi law to meet the housing needs of the working class in a dignified manner, rather than have people face the threat of a bulldozer demolishing their homes.

What is also alarming is the continuous violation of the right to protest, guaranteed by the right to freedom of speech, right to freedom of association, and the right to freedom of movement in the Constitution. How can protesters, who are demonstrating for their right to dignity, life, and housing, be arrested and jailed for “obstructing the work of a civil servant”? Aren’t civil servants responsible for protecting the interests of the working-class population? The bureaucracy needs to change its attitude and stop acting like the same class that worked for the colonial government before partition. Such attitudes are unbecoming of tax-funded officials whose job is to serve all citizens regardless of class.

The issue of housing for the poor is a critical one in Pakistan, particularly in urban areas like Islamabad. The rapid influx of people from rural areas to cities in search of employment opportunities has led to the growth of informal settlements or katchi abadis. These settlements often lack basic amenities such as sewerage systems, electricity, and gas connections, and their residents live in substandard housing conditions.

The government has a responsibility to ensure that its citizens have access to adequate housing, as enshrined in the Constitution and international human rights law. The previous government launched affordable housing projects to address this issue, and these initiatives should not be scrapped due to political differences. The current government should continue to prioritize the housing needs of the poor and allocate resources to address this critical issue.

Moreover, action must be taken against those who exploit the poor by grabbing land and selling or renting it to them. This is often done illegally, and the poor are left vulnerable to eviction and displacement when the authorities decide to clear the land. Such exploitation perpetuates the cycle of poverty and marginalization and must be stopped.

Officials who take advantage of such land transfers and turn a blind eye to the plight of the poor must also be held accountable. The bureaucracy needs to overhaul its attitude and recognize that its job is to serve all citizens, regardless of their class. Officials must work to protect the interests of the working-class population and ensure that they have access to basic amenities like housing, water, and sanitation.

Swift action is needed to address the housing needs of the poor, and the government should prioritize this issue as a matter of urgency. A judicial inquiry and fact-finding by a parliamentary committee may be necessary to set matters right and ensure that the fundamental rights of citizens are protected. Housing is a right, not a privilege, and the state must take steps to ensure that all its citizens have access to adequate housing.

Read more:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Videos