KARACHI:Human rights, labour rights and civil society activists, independent economists and researchers on Sunday staged a token hunger strike in front of Karachi Press Club to protest and express sodality with those whose livelihood has been destroyed during the recent so-called anti-encroachment drive.
The participants of the hunger strike included senior architect Arif Hasan, veteran economist and a former Advisor to Chief Ministers of Sindh and Balochistan Dr. Kaisar Bengali, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) Dr. Riaz Shaikh, Chief Executive of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) Karamat Ali, Director of Urban Resource Centre Zahid Farooque, Vice Chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Ms. Uzma Noorani, human rights activists, Dr. Haroon Ahmed, Ms. Naghma Shaikh, Ms. Rafia Gulani and others.
Dr. Kaiser Bengali said the present state is anti-poor and unless poor are not fighting for their rights, they would not get their rights. He said due to neo-liberal economic policies the poor are suffering and wealthy are flourishing.
Speaking on the occasion Arif Hasan said the unplanned operation has rendered hundreds of thousands of workers jobless and the government has no plan to provide any relief to those people. He said the affected people must be provided alternative employment opportunities and shelters. For this purpose he suggested that people should be consulted in this regard.
He said that poor were not provided shelters so Katchi Abadis emerged, marketing places for poor were not planned so hawkers emerged and no bus terminals were constructed so bus stops emerged on the road.
Dr. Riaz Shaikh said unemployment rate will further increase because of this anti-encroachment drive. People are facing difficulties in finding alternative livelihood opportunities because their businesses are destroyed.
Karamat Ali of PILER said every citizen of Pakistan has got fundamental rights of living decent life and residence. The Supreme Court order to demolish is against the fundamental rights of people. Many shop owners had legal papers, but despite that shops were demolished.
He said “we don’t support encroachment but this should not be abruptly in such a way that millions of people lose their business and shelters. He appealed the Chief Justice to reverse his decision and stop the operation in all over the country. Instead order a mechanism in consultation with the affectees for systematic removal of the encroachment.
Dr. Haroon Ahmed said the Supreme Court should regularise the properties in Karachi on the same pattern of Islamabad properties.
Human Rights Defender and activist Naghma Iqtidar, who was one of the organizers of the hunger strike said that hundreds of shops and have been demolished during recent anti encroachment drive and most of the affectees are poor. she said that thousands of workers have been rendered unemployed. She said that the civil society struggle under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee would continue and future action of course will be announced this week after a larger meeting. JAC would also approach political parties to seek their support.
Ms Uzma Noorani of HRCP said that the human right activists are with the affected people. She said it is a grave violation of human rights that the Supreme Court is not providing a relief to people while ordering removal.
Researcher Iffat Ara said the economic activities have suffered a lot due to anti-encroachment drive. Jibran Nasir, advocate demanded the Supreme Court to constitute an independent Commission to look into the matter on humanitarian grounds and provide compensation to the affected people. “We don’t have confidence on this government as its decisions seldom implemented,” he added.
Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) asked the workers to be united to launch a unified movement for their rights. Zahid Farooq said during the operation, about over 10,000 shops have been demolished. He said the affectees of Karachi Circular Railways be provided alternative residences and compensation amount. Affected people be included in the decisions.