Court documents show that Islamabad’s authorities have cracked down on illegal slums, fearing their growing Christian population will pose a threat to Pakistan’s Muslim majority.

Human rights activists have criticised the move by the capital’s development body.

In 2014 the Capital Development Authority declared a war against the slums, leaving hundreds homeless.

The left-wing Awami Workers Party (AWP) launched a Supreme Court bid against the drive, and the court ordered written justification for the authority’s actions.

In reply, the CDA said: “It seems this pace of occupation of land by Christian community may increase… removal of katchi abadies is very urgent to provide better environment to the citizen of Islamabad and to protect the beauty of Islam”.

The response sparked backlash, with human rights activists protesting against the move.