The earthquake-affected persons sheltering in flats of Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad warned of self-immolation if they were forced to vacate their residence on January 15.
The Interior Ministry has recently directed Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to get the flats vacated today (Monday) by sending the refugees to their ancestral places, on which some of them widely protested at a press conference here on Sunday.
They said that they have no other option except camping in front of President and Prime Minister houses and some of them also warned of self-immolation if the ICT administration took any stern action against them or forcefully oust them from their present shelters.
As many as 325 families took shelter in CDA flats soon after the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005. Around 150 families have been shifted back and 180 families are still living in these flats and refused to vacate them voluntarily.
They condemned the federal government saying that it is a cruel act of the authorities at the time when an intense weather is prevailing across the country, particularly in the earthquake-affected areas. They said there is no any proper arrangement from the government side to settle them in the ancestral areas. "We appeal President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to let them live in the flats till April when weather becomes somehow pleasant", they said.
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