Street Vendor Dies During CDA Anti-Encroachment Operation Near Zia Mosque, Sparks Protests
Islamabad — A street vendor lost his life during a Capital Development Authority (CDA) anti-encroachment drive near Zia Mosque, igniting public outrage and protests from local residents. The vendor reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack after CDA officials seized his pushcart, which was his sole source of income.
Eyewitnesses stated that the vendor repeatedly begged the CDA enforcement personnel not to confiscate his cart, but his pleas were ignored. Overcome with distress after losing his means of livelihood, the man collapsed on the spot and died before medical help could arrive.
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The incident has raised serious concerns about the conduct of CDA officials and the impact of enforcement actions on vulnerable urban populations. Residents described the operation as excessively harsh, emphasizing that the vendor was simply trying to support his family. “He was trying to feed his family. The state took that away,” said one protester.
Following the death, local residents gathered to protest what they called state brutality and insensitivity. Demonstrators accused the CDA of using excessive force and neglecting the human consequences of its actions, chanting slogans demanding justice and accountability for those responsible.
