Dual offices: Islamabad mayor’s CDA charge challenged in IHC

Petitions seek restrain on ‘part-time chairman’ Aziz from utilising powers

ISLAMABAD: The additional charge of chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) held by Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz was challenged before the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday.

Four petitioners, including Raja Ahsaan Satti and Muhammad Umer Abbasi, filed identical pleas in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday contending that the mayor as the “part-time” chairman of CDA was not authorised to take policy decisions.

Filing their appeals via their resptive counsels GM Chaudhry and Shafqat Abbasi, the petitioners listed secretary Establishment Division, secretary CADD, ministry of interior and the mayor as respondents. The petitioners argued that Aziz had assumed charge of the CDA hot seat on September 6 after a notification was issued.

“He is not supposed to make major policy decisions, which may cause problems or complications of far reaching consequences in the future functioning of CDA,” Abbasi stated. He added that the mayor was also not supposed to make appointments which would affect policies of the CDA or IMC.

In the petition, Abbasi said that chairman CDA should be independent, impartial, neutral, professional and above any political affiliation. On the other hand, the office of the mayor was a purely political office where he had been nominated and elected by members of the corporation along political lines. Further, since the CDA works under the 1960 Ordinance, its functions cannot be handed over to hand-picked, favorites of the ruling political party.

He argued that in light of this, the notification for handing Aziz charge of CDA chairman should be set aside.

Abbasi pointed out that there were hundreds of capable, competent and efficient officers working in the civil service as well as in the CDA who could be considered for this position on merit.

“Holding dual offices violates the concept of good governance especially, when there are is conflicting and overlapping interests of the two offices,” he stated.

While challenging the notification, the petitioners requested the court to declare it illegal and without lawful authority. They have also requested the court to direct the respondents to appoint a regular chairman of CDA on merit after following the due process in a transparent manner.

Additionally, the petitioners urged the court to restrain the mayor from taking major and important policy decisions, including postings and appointments in the capital authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2016.