2,000 Christians forced onto streets of Islamabad

According to reports, they were forced without warning off their land by the government before their homes were demolished. The Christians believe they were evicted because of their faith.

Christians have already staged a protest in front of the National Press Club to draw the attention of the media and the government to their plight.

They urged Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhury to take action against the demolition of their homes and the reported torture of the shanty residents at the hands of the police.

They also demanded the registration of cases against officials believed to be complicit in the illegal detention of more than 40 women from the shanty after the eviction was carried out on May 18.

Despite the protests, government officials have repeatedly insisted that the Christians received prior warning about the eviction

Two people have reportedly died as a result of dehydration, starvation and the generally poor health conditions in the makeshift camp.

Ex-federal minister J Salik said it was highly unfortunate that the people of the shanty were still living on the streets of Islamabad two months after their eviction.

“We will not give in and continue to fight for the rights of these poor people who are looking towards the government for provision of some kind of relief,” he said.

Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS UK, an organisation supporting persecuted Pakistani Christians, said the Christians were struggling to cope in the sweltering temperatures and that many of the children were falling ill.

He condemned the government for removing them without warning and for failing to care for them.

“These people are Christians but they are also Pakistanis and it is the state’s responsibility to ensure they receive justice,” he said. “The government must resolve this matter before any more people die.”