PRESS RELEASE — APPG for Pakistani Minorities @APPGPakMin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 March 2026 | London
Christian Families at Risk: APPG Calls for Immediate Suspension of Islamabad Evictions
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities has expressed serious concern over reports that Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) is preparing demolition operations targeting informal settlements largely inhabited by low-income Christian families.
Community representatives and civil society monitors indicate that residents in several katchi abadis have received notices signalling imminent clearance. Many families have lived in these settlements for decades and rely on their proximity to workplaces for economic survival. Reports suggest that affected residents have not been offered adequate consultation, due process protections, or viable resettlement options.
The APPG warns that forced evictions carried out without legal safeguards or alternative housing would risk violating Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees and its international human rights obligations.
Call for Restraint and Protection
The APPG urges the Government of Pakistan, the CDA, and local authorities to suspend any demolition plans and engage in meaningful dialogue with affected communities. The Group stresses that urban development must respect the rights, dignity, and safety of religious minorities.
APPG Chair Jim Shannon MP said:
“The Christian families living in Islamabad’s informal settlements are among the country’s most vulnerable communities. Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees equality and protection for minorities. Any development initiative must uphold these commitments. Authorities should halt demolitions, consult residents, and ensure that no family is left without shelter or support.”
Co-Chair Lord Alton highlighted the wider human rights implications:
“Pakistan has binding international obligations to safeguard religious minorities and prevent discriminatory practices. Forced evictions without due process or alternative accommodation would raise serious concerns. The international community is monitoring developments closely and expects adherence to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.”
The APPG emphasised that actions undermining constitutional protections risk further marginalising vulnerable communities and damaging Pakistan’s international standing.
Background
Christian sanitation workers, domestic labourers, and other low-income families have long depended on informal settlements for affordable housing near their employment. Previous clearance operations in Islamabad have disproportionately affected religious minority communities, prompting concerns among human rights organisations about discriminatory patterns in urban planning and enforcement.
Legal and Human Rights Framework
Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law, protection of minorities, and respect for human dignity and housing security, including under Articles 14, 25, 36, and 38(d).
Domestic legal standards require evictions to follow due process, including adequate notice, consultation, and provision of rehabilitation or alternative accommodation for long-established communities.
Pakistan is also party to key international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which recognise protections against forced eviction and affirm the right to adequate housing. Relevant international standards further prohibit arbitrary displacement and protect family life and religious freedom.
The APPG reiterates that any evictions conducted without lawful safeguards or resettlement measures would raise serious legal and humanitarian concerns, particularly where impacts fall disproportionately on religious minorities.
ENDS
For media enquiries:
Morris Johns
Secretary, APPG for Pakistani Minorities
BBC “Why are Pakistan’s Christians Targeted?” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35910331
