Aziz plans to challenge verdict

Cedes coveted CDA post after IHC ruling

ISLAMABAD: As the Islamabad High Court termed illegal the CDA chairman’s appointment, Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz ceded the post.

However, in a conversation with The Express Tribune, he made it clear that he will not be going without a fight and announced plans of challenging the verdict.

During the 16 months which Aziz spent at the helm of Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) affairs, the federal government seemingly kept the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) — of which Aziz is the elected mayor, starved of funds to run its affairs and to carry out developmental works in the federal capital.

Noting this, Aziz lobbied to become the CDA chief, hoping to use his clout as the civic agency’s chairman to address issues plaguing the city’s residents through the CDA’s massive machinery and a large pool of funds.



His closeness to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif saw that effort pay dividends and he was appointed to the office on September 6, 2016, with sweeping powers to deal with CDA’s tough bureaucrats who were allegedly creating hurdles in smooth functioning of local government bodies and to transfer powers.

However, the balance between his duties as mayor and CDA chairman proved to be too tricky and he was often found to be far more focused on CDA’s issues including corruption in different departments —particularly in land directorate — and focusing on encroachments and non-conforming use of buildings than on every-day civic issues.

As compared to his predecessors, Aziz gave free hand to the CDA’s Enforcement Wing to take action against encroachers without fear and favour — it helped that there were orders from the court to undertake such actions as well.

Moreover, around 80 per cent of buildings in CDA’s developed sectors were made to conform with the rules under his tenure.

But elected councillors say he has failed to deliver, particularly in empowering the local government system, prompting frequent protests during the IMC’s sessions.

Moreover, they point to how he was unable to formulate a robust strategy to deal with the major civic issues of the capital including water, sanitation, health and solid waste management.

Moreover, Aziz, they said, had failed to take concrete measures to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas in regard to the provision of civic facilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2017.