A street vendor lost his life during a Capital Development Authority (CDA) anti-encroachment operation near Zia Mosque in Islamabad, triggering public outrage and protests from local residents. The man reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack after CDA officials seized his pushcart, his only means of livelihood.
Eyewitnesses claim that the vendor repeatedly pleaded with CDA enforcement personnel not to confiscate his cart, but his appeals were ignored. Overwhelmed by the distress of losing his livelihood, the man collapsed on the spot. Locals say he died before medical assistance could arrive.
The incident has raised serious questions about the conduct of CDA officials and the broader implications of enforcement actions against the urban poor. Residents described the operation as unnecessarily harsh, stating that the man had set up his cart merely to earn a basic living. “He was trying to feed his family. The state took that away,” said one protester.
Following the vendor’s death, area residents gathered to protest what they described as state brutality and insensitivity. Demonstrators accused the CDA of using excessive force and failing to consider the human cost of its operations. Many chanted slogans demanding justice and accountability for the officials involved.