Single swoop: Mayor strips CDA admin directorate of assets

Assets of numerous other CDA wings also transferred to IMC

ISLAMABAD: What was pending for months took place in a day, possibly due to bruised egos, if sources are to be believed.

Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz on Monday transferred all assets, vehicles, formation, and human resources from a number of CDA directorates to the IMC under the direct administrative and financial control of the chief metropolitan officer (CMO).

According to a notification issued on Monday, the CDA Administration Director General (DG) would also be the IMC Administration DG, together with all subordinate officers for IMC-related administrative affairs would be routed directly to the CMO.

In addition, the Land DG, Security director, IT director, and CDA transport officer will also move to the IMC in the same capacities. Meanwhile, the CDA finance DG, accounts director, audit director and all subordinate officers will also perform all functions pertaining to the IMC and would route all related official assignments directly through the CMO.

Similarly, the CDA Human Resources DG will also serve as the IMC Human Resources DG, together with all subordinate officers.

All these decisions were taken by Mayor Aziz in his capacity as CDA chairman, just a day after the appointment of a new CDA Administration member. A source in the CDA said on the condition of anonymity that the hasty nature of the decisions gives the impression that the new administration member had been appointed by the prime minister without taking Mayor Aziz and his team into confidence or without asking for their advice.

He said that according to the rules, nobody, including the chairman, has the power to unilaterally transfer CDA assets, rights and liabilities at a time when the subject is pending in a court.

Another CDA source told The Express Tribune that through the notification, all powers of the CDA administration member have been transferred to the CMO.

IMC Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz, however, said that all powers have been transferred to the CMO in accordance with the LG Act.  He said that they have settled all issues relating to transfer of employees and devolution of different directorates with representatives of the CDA Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) in the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2016.