Pakistan’s government now evicts 25,000 Christian families it resettled for safety, abandoning them to streets without aid or alternatives.
Story Highlights
- Capital Development Authority orders eviction of low-income Christians from Islamabad colonies built after 2013 blasphemy violence.
- No resettlement, compensation, or land provided despite 2015 Supreme Court order requiring it before displacement.
- Families, relocated by the same government, now protest amid fears of homelessness and mob attacks.
- Protests ongoing since March 12, 2026; workers skip jobs fearing home loss during absence.
Roots in 2013 Blasphemy Case
In 2013, authorities arrested 14-year-old Rimsha Masih on false blasphemy charges, igniting mob violence against Christians. Thousands of low-income families, mostly sanitation and domestic workers, fled their homes. Pakistan’s government resettled them in Islamabad’s informal colonies like Rimsha in Sector H-9/2 and Sharpar in Sector G-7. Over a decade, residents built homes, established schools, received NADRA identity cards, and participated in local elections. This government protection now turns to betrayal.
Eviction Orders Ignite Protests
On March 12, 2026, protests erupted in Rimsha and Sharpar Colonies against verbal eviction directives from the Capital Development Authority. Late March brought formal notices demanding families vacate within days. The CDA labels settlements illegal to advance city development. No resettlement plan exists, violating a 2015 Supreme Court stay order that mandates alternatives before eviction. Families face imminent homelessness without compensation.
Stakeholders Demand Justice
International Christian Concern reports no proper resettlement and warns of mob violence risks. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan urges federal ministers—including Prime Minister, Law, Interior, and Religious Affairs—to intervene, citing the Supreme Court order and 2001 National Housing Policy. Community leader Imran Shahzad Sahotra calls the directives injustice. Muslim educationist Zeeba Hashmi criticizes the lack of alternatives despite long-term residency with schools and elections.
Activist Samson Salamat argues evictions breach national housing policy. CDA prioritizes urban projects, but prior government role in resettlement undermines their claims legally. Protesters appeal to church leaders and global organizations for amplification.
Human and Economic Toll Mounts
Short-term impacts strike 25,000 residents: homelessness risks, missed wages as families stay home guarding properties, and fears of blasphemy-fueled violence. Children suffer sleepless nights amid panic. Long-term, evictions deepen minority displacement and invite legal battles. Essential city services face labor shortages from these workers. Social distress reinforces Pakistan’s discrimination patterns, drawing international scrutiny on minority protections.
Sources:
Thousands of Christian Families Are Facing Eviction in This Muslim Country
Thousands of Christian Families Face Eviction in Pakistan
Where Will We Go? Eviction Threat Puts Thousands of Christian Families at Risk in Pakistan’s Capital
