Seeking local govt polls in capital
Former chairman National Reconstruction Bureau moved the court on Wednesday for a local government system in Islamabad.
Danial Aziz made Secretary Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Masood Chisti, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Hamid Ali Mirza , Chief Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Mehmood Pirzada and Secretary Ministry of Local Governments and Rural Development as respondents.
Submitting his petition in the Islamabad High Court, Aziz contended that the federal capital should be governed by an elected local government and requested the court for holding elections under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Elections Order 2001.
He said in 2001, legislation was made for local governments and in 2002 a proper ordinance was issued, while laws were given constitutional protection under the 17th amendment in 2003.
“Even after a lapse of eight years, no practical steps have been taken to establish the system in the city” he added
He contended that the law has empowered the chief election commissioner to hold local government elections, but in the case of the federal capital, the election commission has ignored the holding of timely elections.
He maintained that all capital cities of the world have a proper local system run by their elected mayors.
“This is the principal seat of democracy in the country, but ironically citizens are deprived of basic democracy here”, Aziz said.
Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan of IHC will take up the petition on Thursday.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2011.
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