Slams mayor for skipping session, patronising Capital Development Authority. PHOTO: FILE
The council, however, did manage to pass four resolutions, including one for devising a mechanism to allow construction activities in zone-II and zone-III of the capital by amending ICT Zoning Regulations 1992, similar to how it had been amended for Zone-IV in 2010
As the council met for its 17th meeting at the Pak-China Friendship Centre on Thursday, members expressed their discontent over the absence of Mayor Shiekh Anser Aziz.
The house soon began ringing with slogans of “go mayor go” and “shame, shame”, portraying scenes from a fish market with several members of the opposition and treasury benches standing on their seats. With the council meeting once a month, members said that the mayor was least bothered in attending it.
Several council members left the meeting well before the session ended.
The council members, from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also vented their fury over a ban on issuing new utility connections in the rural areas of the capital, apart from a ban on the transfer of property in Islamabad.
The council members also frowned over CDA’s action against illegal housing societies in different zones of Islamabad.
PML-N Union Council Chairman Raja Zahid said that they were fed up of their issues remaining unresolved and threatened to block the Murree Road along with chairmen of 29 rural union councils and
their voters.
However, the meeting did manage to move on to discussing the agenda. With IMC Deputy Mayor Chaudhry Riffat Javed presiding over the session, they discussed the agenda in detail including the IMC’s Business Rules, the water supply situation and performance of the Environment Wing. They also approved actions taken during the last meeting of the IMC.
Non-approval of rules
Earlier, Chief Metropolitan Officer (CMO) Asad Kiyani told the council that Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Administration Yasir Pirzada was apparently blocking the council’s rules of establishment since he was not providing data about the officers and employees who had been transferred from CDA to the IMC.
Kiyani further said that not even a single penny could be spent from the IMC’s accounts until rules of the establishment are approved.
The CMO further said that the IMC’s Rules of Business were being printed. Once the process is complete, printed copies of the rules will be provided to the members.
At this, the council’s members bemoaned that they continue to run into obstacles but these do not seem to exist for the mayor or the CMO. They accused the mayor of ignoring the IMC and patronising the CDA, of whom he holds a double charge as chairman.
Talking about the lack of amenities for the capital’s residents, the council members said that initially, the water supply was stopped to the rural areas. Later on, they were deprived of gas and electricity. Now, they complained, they were being barred from constructing or transferring their lands.
Deputy Mayor Syed Zeeshan Naqvi voiced his complaints, stating that the Islamabad Zoning Regulations had been changed overnight and a ban was imposed on construction and transfer of lands.
Water supply issues
The house was told that owing to less rainfall this year, they had reduced supply from the Simly Dam by 10 million gallons to ensure water in the dam lasts till the winter rainy season begins.
Further, the house was told that Rs2.5 million had been released by the Finance Wing for the repair and maintenance of water tankers in the capital.
However, members of the house called for releasing the full Rs10 million which had been approved by the mayor to address the water issues of the capital since the residents of the capital could face an acute shortage of water during the winter.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2017.
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