Parliament set to give legal status to ordinance protecting Islamabad sector affectees

ISLAMABAD: The Focal Person for the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi said that a landmark presidential ordinance aimed at protecting the rights of thousands of families affected in various sectors of Islamabad is set to gain legal status soon after parliamentary approval.

The Presidential ordinance is expected to provide the strongest constitutional, legal, and practical safeguards for the affectees.

Speaking with journalists, Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi credited Prime Minister’s Advisor and Federal Minister Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah for his exceptional efforts in bringing relief to residents of sectors including C-13, D-13, F-13, H-16, C-16, and E-13, among others.

He emphasized that Dr. Tauqeer Shah’s personal interventions and high-level consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari were instrumental in issuing this historic presidential ordinance.

“The ordinance has now been presented in Parliament and will soon be enacted into law, granting the affectees an unassailable legal status,” Naqvi said.

He added that a previous ruling by Justice Babar Sattar had created an extremely complex and precarious situation, putting thousands of families at risk of losing their rightful entitlements.

Naqvi also strongly condemned the recent campaign of character assassination against Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah, calling it baseless and deeply regrettable.

“This smear campaign aimed to undermine the contributions of a person who has been a priceless asset to the state and the people of Pakistan,” he said.

He highlighted Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah’s illustrious career, including his tenure as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Punjab and later to the Prime Minister, his representation of Pakistan at the WTO, and his role in securing a historic $40 billion development grant for Pakistan from the World Bank.

“Despite immense negative baseless propaganda, Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah carried out his responsibilities for the legal protection of Islamabad’s affectees with utmost diligence, integrity, and prudence,” Naqvi said.

“The issuance of the presidential ordinance was the only viable path to safeguard the residents. Had Dr. Shah not acted decisively, thousands of families would have faced the imminent threat of displacement.”

Expressing unwavering support for the residents, Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi vowed to stand as a “steel wall” defending their legitimate demands.

He added that he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif soon to present the residents’ concerns in detail, hoping for the announcement of a new and substantial relief package for the affectees.