ISLAMABAD // Wrapped in a purple shawl, Mirjan wanders downcast among the ruins of the Islamabad slum where she lived, newly demolished.
The authorities in Pakistan’s leafy, affluent capital have declared war on the slums, largely populated by Christians and Afghan refugees, saying they are illegal and havens for militants.
The bulldozers came for Mirjan’s slum by a railway line in the city’s south last Monday, transforming hundreds of shacks into a sea of rubble.
The 70-year-old, with grey hair and pale blue eyes, saw the city’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) demolish her meagre world in a matter of minutes.
“I have been living here for the past 40 years. The CDA has completely ruined me. I am a widow, my husband died 20 years ago, my two elder sons also died,” she said, stifling sobs.
“I am a poor woman — why did the CDA not listen to me?”
More than two dozen slums, known as “katchi abadis” in Urdu and often euphemistically called “colonies”, are tucked into the corners of Islamabad’s neat grid pattern.
They house tens of thousands of people unable to afford the city’s high rents, in flimsy dwellings put up with concrete, bricks and sacking.
Some are located on drainage cuts designed to channel away the heavy rains of the monsoon, and many have no access to electricity, gas or mains water supplies.
The CDA, the city’s administration, has now drawn up a list of 14 such settlements it says are illegal and plans to clear — with no compensation or rehousing plan for the residents.
The demolition of Mirjan’s slum came after a bombing at a nearby fruit and vegetable market killed 22 people — the deadliest attack in Islamabad since 2008.
Pervaiz Masih, who lives in a Christian slum, says the community is frightened.
“We have no land or other property to move to, we cannot build houses even if the government gives us land as we have no money,” Mr Masih said, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Aasim Sajjad, chairman of the All Pakistan Katchi Abadi Alliance, said the city’s elite enjoy a cosseted life waited on by maids, cooks and chauffeurs drawn from the ranks of the slum-dwellers.
“These are working class populations, they are the ones who make this city run, the construction workers, the drivers, the cooks, in the case of the Christians they are mostly the cleaners,” he said.
“Let’s say you clear all these settlements. In about a month they’ll be up in various forms again because these people are not going to disappear — they are going to live somewhere.”
That somewhere is the suburbs, where properties can be rented for 3,000 to 5,000 rupees (Dh100-180) a month, according to Shaista Sohail, a senior official with the CDA.
Not a huge sum by some standards, but substantial enough in a country where low-skilled workers earn as little as Dh367 a month, which must also pay for transport.
Anger at the CDA is starting to brew in the slums — demonstrations have been held to try to stop the bulldozers.
“I have no Kalashnikov, no pistol, we are peaceful, I hope to Jesus they will never come here,” said Youssaf Masih Bhatti, the pastor of one Christian community.
And if the bulldozers do come, said Mr Pervaiz, “if they say they will crush us, we will stand in front of them”.
* Agence France-Presse
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
