Twenty-five thousand Christians residing in Rimsha Colony of Islamabad have been asked to vacate the place; the Pak government has accused them of occupying government land. This move has triggered widespread protests by minority groups in Pakistan. Last week the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of Pakistan ordered the eviction of all settlements, including Rimsha Colony, Allama Iqbal Colony, and Akram Masih Gill Colony. According to local residents, the order was circulated using megaphones, followed by demolition drives.

Human rights concern

The people residing in these colonies alleged that the authorities gave only verbal warnings using a megaphone before demolition suddenly started. This sudden action by Pak authorities has raised human rights concerns among the communities. According to a report by Christian Daily International this sudden drive has affected the low-income communities across Islamabad, including the Rimsha and Sharpar colonies, where residents have lived for decades.

Since the demolition and forceful eviction, residents of the colonies have been staging demonstrations. They have raised serious concerns that if they are not rehabilitated, thousands will become homeless, and most cannot afford to relocate due to grave discrimination against minorities in Pakistan’s housing market.

One Faraz Pervaiz, an activist from Islamabad said, “These protests are a cry against oppression. They reflect our faith and our demand for justice in a country where we are often denied our rights. We will not be silenced or displaced from our homes or our beliefs.”

Is there any alternative place for Christian minorities in Pakistan

Rimsha Colony is one of the largest settlements in Islamabad. Thousands of working-class minorities reside here. The residents are mostly Christians who are working as sanitation workers, domestic labourers, and construction workers. This place was allotted this place to working-class people in 2011. The name was chosen in memory of Rimsha Masih, a mentally disabled girl who was lynched for allegedly burning pages of the Holy Quran, which was later proven false. This incident led to violence and minorities had to flee their homes, they were later given this colony as a temporary place to stay.

An educationist and activist, Zeeba Hashmi wrote on social media that initially government gave this place for communities to settle, even establishing schools here, and now they are suddenly being asked to leave. “People have built their lives here. Imagine the catastrophe if they are forced out. Where will they go?,” Hashmi asked.

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