Islamabad Traders Protest Forcible Eviction from “Bengali Property” in Aabpara Market
Islamabad: Traders staged a strong protest in Aabpara Market against the forcible eviction attempts from properties known as “Bengali property.”
Addressing the protesting traders, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran and Traders Action Committee Islamabad President Ajmal Baloch, Aabpara Market General Secretary Akhtar Abbasi, and Traders Action Committee Secretary Khalid Chaudhry condemned the Cabinet Division officials for using unlawful methods to clear the shops.
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Legal Tenancy and Payment Status: Leaders pointed out that Islamabad has a parliament-approved rental law governing evictions. Nine shops in Aabpara are classified as Bengali property with tenants dating back to 1971. These tenants legally pay a 10% annual rent increase and have cleared their rent up to December 2025.
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Flawed Enforcement Action: The Cabinet Division staff rushed to enforce an eviction after getting the case dismissed by a civil judge on jurisdictional grounds alone—not because the court ordered an eviction. Tenants immediately filed an appeal with the Additional Sessions Judge, who accepted it and issued notices to both parties.
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Traders’ Warning: Terming the eviction while rent is paid up to December 2025 as extreme injustice, Ajmal Baloch demanded that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet resolve the issue. He warned that no one is above the law, and if authorities resort to forced evictions, traders will shut down Islamabad entirely.
