What happened: Human Rights experts of the United Nations called out Pakistan’s government on Friday to stop mass evictions of people residing near narrow watercourses of Karachi that are Gujjar nulla and Orangi nulla.
Background: Human rights experts in Geneva expressed concern over ‘ intimidation and unlawful detention ‘ of residents. The United Nations Higher Commissioner of Human Rights also stated that the anti-encroachment drives carried out by city authorities were “without adequate consultation with the affected residents, no relocation plan, and disparate and insufficient compensation for the displaced.” The Office of Higher Commission of Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that the evictions and demolitions ordered last year already affected approximately 12000 homes housing 96000 people. The statement further cited “more than 66,500 people have already been affected — in Gujjar nullah, 4,900 homes of 50,000 people have been demolished, along with 1,700 homes housing 16,500 people in Orangi nullah.”
The office also stated “The legal basis for this mass displacement and the remedies available to those who are affected are unclear. What is clear is the horrid effect on the displaced population, putting many poor families out on the street in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Human Rights experts expressing their concern in this regard urged Pakistan, which is also a member of the council, to ensure that its policies and practices are in concurrence with international human rights standards that cater to relocations, evictions, and internal displacements. Click here to see more from ProperGaanda.