Clashes Erupt in Islamabad’s Bari Imam Area During CDA Anti-Encroachment Operation

Violent clashes broke out in the Noorpur Shahan area near the historic Bari Imam shrine on Tuesday as residents protested an ongoing Capital Development Authority (CDA) demolition drive.

According to local sources and eyewitness reports, police deployed tear gas and opened fire to disperse crowds pelting stones at enforcement teams. Protesters responded by torching at least two official CDA vehicles, escalating the confrontation in the densely populated residential neighborhood.

The incident occurred as CDA teams pressed ahead with anti-encroachment operations targeting what authorities describe as illegal structures on state land in Noor Bagh, Noorpur Shahan, and surrounding localities. The Bari Imam settlement, believed to predate Pakistan’s independence and home to communities tied to the revered shrine, has become a focal point of resistance against the drives.

Residents have repeatedly voiced grievances over short notice periods, inadequate compensation, and alleged disregard for court stay orders. Earlier phases of the operation displaced thousands from nearby Muslim Colony and other katchi abadis, with estimates suggesting up to 40,000 people affected in recent months. Many families, including women, children, and the elderly, reported being left without shelter overnight.

CDA officials maintain that the actions are necessary to reclaim encroached land for planned urban development and have dismissed some resident claims as misinformation. However, civil society groups, political parties, and rights advocates have called for an immediate halt to the demolitions, citing violations of housing rights and due process.

At least two policemen were reported injured in the clashes, though no comprehensive casualty or arrest figures have been officially released yet.