Over the coming weeks, we’re going to break down some of the hashtags we’ll be using to campaign against the illegal demolitions taking place along Gujjar Nala.

Here’s the first one: #AffecteesNotEncroachers

Did you know that 62% of Karachi’s population lives in informal settlements? The vast majority of the people in our city cannot afford access to formal housing.

To dismiss informal settlements as ‘encroachments’, is to effectively criminalize the existence of 62% of the people who inhabit our city.

The onus of building safe, accessible housing is on the government we pay our taxes to. Why must the people of Karachi be rendered homeless and punished for the state’s inability to provide safe and accessible housing to everyone?

The homes along Gujjar Nala, are the homes of affectees – those paying the cost for our governments ineffective, cruel planning. They are not ‘encroachers.’ Their homes are not illegal. But the government’s decision to steal their homes without providing resettlement is criminal.