PML-N likely to grab Pindi mayor slot

District to have two municipal corporations, a district council, five municipal bodies

RAWALPINDI:

The ruling PML-N is all set to install its mayor and deputy mayors in Rawalpindi after the party won 35 union councils out of 46 in the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation. 

PML-N Rawalpindi city president Sardar Naseem Khan, who is tipped to be the city’s mayor, has said that no new tax will be imposed on residents.



Thanking the voters after the party’s victory in Saturday’s local government elections in the district, Khan said his party would make Rawalpindi a model city in the province within two years.

Talking to Daily Express, he said they would also work to elevate the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation to the status of a metropolitan corporation.

Forty-six union council (UC) chairmen will elect a mayor and two deputy mayors of the municipal corporation.

In addition to 46 chairmen, there are 10 reserved seats -- five for women, three for non-Muslim religious minorities, one each for youth and labourer. They will be elected after the election of mayor and deputy mayors.



Mayor and deputy mayors would draw a monthly salary of Rs50,000 and Rs40,000 each respectively. All members of the corporation would also get a monthly remuneration.

Apart from a municipal corporation, there will be a district council, comprising of chairmen of 120 UCs in the rural areas. PML-N has also won majority in the district council.

Besides, 15 representatives of women, minorities, youth and peasants will also be elected to the district council on reserved seats. The council will have a chairman and two vice-chairmen.

Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian and Kallar Syedan will have their own municipal committees. Women, minorities, youth and peasant representatives will also be part of the municipal committees. Murree will have a municipal corporation.



Opposition leader

Meanwhile, opposition groups have started canvassing to install the leader of the opposition in the municipal corporation. There will be only seven opposition members in the 56-member corporation.

Awami Muslim League (AML)’s Sheikh Rashid Shafiq seems a strong candidate for the slot of opposition leader with backing of four opposition councillors.

Pakistan People’s Party’s Anjum Farooq Paracha, who contested as an independent candidate, is also vying for the seat.

At least four of the eight successful independent candidates in municipal corporation have assured PML-N of their support.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th,  2015.