A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, has resumed the hearing of Islamabad Katchi Abadi (slum) case.

During the hearing, the CJP remarked that whoever takes the responsibility of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) in the next government, should appear before the apex court in next hearing.

As soon as the case hearing began, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman informed the court that he conducted a visit to of all the slums of the federal capital and added that government had fixed a date in 1995 for their regularization.

“On the order of the government, as many as ten slums had been regularized and all slums have Union Councils,” he reiterated. On this, the CJP remarked that almost 23 years had passed; have the slums’ problems been solved in this long time period?

Responding to this, the CDA chairman replied that the government had allocated land to the slums almost ten kilometer away from Islamabad. However, he admitted that Katchi Abadi residents of F-7 sector are living in miserable conduction. Moreover, he stated that residents of F-7 Katachi Abadi had provided electricity and clean drinking water facilities.

On this, additional attorney general responded that CDA doesn’t work itself and waits for someone to press it for work. On this CJP directed the CDA to do work to end all sort of encroachments in the capital.

He reiterated that currently, the capital has 52 slums. It is worth mentioning here that CDA had also submitted a report in apex court during the last hearing. In its submitted report civic agency said that slums located in Sector G-7/1, G-7/2, G-7/3 and Sector F-7/4 are being upgraded with award of proprietary rights to 1,299 bonafide dwellers of these habitations.

Later the Chief Justice has summoned the next Minister during the next hearing of this case that is going to be held on September 04.