3,820 illegal structures removed in anti-encroachment operation at Bari Imam: Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry

Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry on Thursday informed the Senate that around 3,820 illegal structures, including commercial units and unoccupied constructions built for land-grabbing purposes, had been removed during an anti-encroachment operation in the Bari Imam area

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th May, 2026) Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry on Thursday informed the Senate that around 3,820 illegal structures, including commercial units and unoccupied constructions built for land-grabbing purposes, had been removed during an anti-encroachment operation in the Bari Imam area.

Responding to a calling Attention Notice raised by Sherry Rehman regarding the alleged forced eviction of Bari Imam residents by police without any resettlement or rehabilitation arrangements, the minister said that 712 acres of land worth nearly Rs one trillion had been reclaimed during the operation.

He said the original built-up area in Bari Imam comprised only eight kanals, whereas encroachments had expanded to over 2,216 kanals over the decades.

The minister said notices had been issued to residents prior to the operation, and women officers were specifically deployed to coordinate with families during the process.

He said the Bari Imam area fell within Sector F-4 under Islamabad’s master plan and that the land had been officially acquired by the state through various land awards between 1961 and 1967.

He said Noor Pur Shahan, commonly referred to as Bari Imam, was among the 104 villages whose land had been acquired for the Federal capital project.

Talal Chaudhry said compensation, alternate agricultural land, plots and cash payments had already been provided to affected families under various rehabilitation schemes.

He said the operation was being carried out uniformly against all forms of encroachments, whether by influential individuals, farmhouses or illegal settlements, adding that many commercial structures had also been removed.

He further informed the House that many occupants had themselves submitted affidavits acknowledging that they were temporarily residing on Capital Development Authority (CDA) land and had no ownership rights over the properties.

Meanwhile, speaking in the House, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the actual residents of Bari Imam should not be termed encroachers, as many families had been living there for centuries before the creation of Islamabad.

He said only a small portion of the original Bari Imam homes had been affected, while the operation mainly targeted illegal settlements on CDA land.

Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the state should adopt a compassionate and humanitarian approach towards genuinely affected families, similar to previous rehabilitation schemes introduced in Islamabad.

He suggested formulating a uniform policy for all acquired villages in Islamabad where residents had been living for decades on acquired land.

Meanwhile, the Senate adopted a resolution to extend the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. II of 2026), for a further period of 120 days with effect from May 9, under the proviso to sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of clause (2) of Article 89 of the Constitution. The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chauhdary in the House.

Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10:30 a.m. due to a lack of quorum.

APP/rzr-raz