Issue declaration calling for amendments to Cantonment Boards Act 1924. PHOTO: REUTERS
In this regard, they drafted a declaration seeking to amend the Cantonment Boards Act 1924.
Vice presidents (VPs) VPs from cantonment boards of Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Murree, Taxila, Wah, Attock, Abbottabad, Havelian, Jhelum, Kharian, Mangla, and Sanjwal gathered at the Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) on Thursday and deliberated at length over the amendments required in the 1924 law. The act had been formulated by the British authorities to government cantonments before the partition of the Indian Sub-Continent but the law was carried on in the new republics formed.
With the meeting of VPs chaired by CCB VP Raja Irfan Imtiaz, the elected local government representatives maintained that the amendments in the cantonment act were necessary to meet the demands of the modern era.
The representatives pointed out that the federal government had already introduced a new law for local government in Islamabad. With the cantonment boards also falling under the federal government, they were of the view that the centre needs to make the necessary amendments whereby they can enjoy the same powers as their counterparts in the district councils and mayors of corporations across the country.
The vice presidents of the cantonment boards also asked the federal government to provide them with financial grants such as those mayors and chairpersons receive to carry out development works in their respective areas.
They also expressed their desire for a monthly honorarium as was being granted to mayors and chairpersons.
The VPs resolved to convey their demands to their respective MNAs and senators for introducing the necessary amendments in 97-year-old law at the appropriate forums.
After the meeting, CCP VP Imtiaz told The Express Tribune that they had formed a committee consisting of vice presidents from the CCB, RCB, Jhelum and Attock to work on preparing a draft for the proposed amendments.
He added that the RCB is also expected to host a similar meeting of VPs from 12 cantonment boards while efforts would be made to encourage the board’s representatives in other regions to hold similar meetings.
Finally, a meeting of vice presidents of all cantonment boards from across the country had been planned to push their case for amendments.
Imtiaz further said that for the first time local government elections in cantonment boards had been held on party basis in 2015 on directions of the Supreme Court. However, he said that the elected representatives felt the need for greater financial and administrative autonomy to uplift the cantonments.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2017.
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