ISLAMABAD: Thousands of land affectees from multiple Islamabad sectors on Monday gathered at the residence of PML-N leader and focal person of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, where they unanimously rejected the Capital Development Authority’s 2008 land award and announced a united struggle to safeguard their rights.
During the meeting, participants declared Zeeshan Ali Naqvi their “true representative,” expressing confidence in his efforts to raise their concerns at the highest forums.
Speaking to the gathering, Mr Naqvi said the land affectees of sectors E-13, D-13, H-16, C-13, F-13 and C-16 were fully united for the protection of their legal entitlements.
Mr Naqvi said the CDA’s 2008 award, along with surveys conducted through Google and SUPARCO, had no legitimacy in the eyes of the land affectees. “A fresh physical survey is the only acceptable basis,” he said, adding that the award for Sector C-16 had been “prepared in closed offices without ground verification.”
He warned that no one would be allowed to “loot or trample upon the rights of the land affectees of Islamabad.”
He accused certain elements in the CDA and bureaucracy of “high-handedness” and vowed to resist what he termed attempts to deprive the public of their lawful dues. “We will stand firm against every excess.
We are above political affiliations when it comes to securing the rights of the land affectees,” he said.
Mr Naqvi praised Prime Minister’s Adviser on Government Effectiveness Dr Tauqeer Shah for presenting the case of the land affectees before the Prime Minister “in an exemplary manner.”
He said Dr Shah had played an important role in paving the way for a presidential ordinance aimed at protecting the rights of Islamabad’s land affectees.
The gathering also criticised the CDA chairman, alleging that he had given “misleading briefings” to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. They said the CDA had become a “white elephant and a hub of corruption,” and vowed to resist every move aimed at “crushing” the land affectees. “CDA officials conduct surveys from their offices without stepping onto the land,” participants said.
Mr Naqvi further announced that registries and mutations in Shah Allah Ditta would soon be opened and that the locality would be developed as a model village. “We will not rest until every single land affectee receives their due right. This is my commitment,” he said.
The land affectees resolved to continue their struggle on all available forums, saying they were ready to make every sacrifice to secure the future of their children. “We are united and determined. Through collective strength, we will secure our rights,” they pledged.
They also announced that they would soon meet Islamabad’s elected representatives and leaders of all political parties to build consensus for the protection of the land affectees’ rights.
