Conflict defers appointments in Lahore's market committees

The ongoing dispute between administrative and govt officials has landed the PM and the CM in a difficult situation

LAHORE: Brimming conflict among Pakistan Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) organisers and cabinet members on the appointment of chairperson, vice-chairperson and members of the marketing committees of Lahore has landed top ministers in a fix about the decision.

In the wake of the issue, the appointment of members of four to five markets in the provincial capital has been deferred for the time being. However, members have been appointed in Kahina Kacha market on the recommendation of the PTI President Central Punjab, Ejaz Chaudhry. As per details, there are five market committees in Lahore, out of which the final decision has been reached to remove the Raiwand committee and instead form a new market committee in Akbari Mandi.

The ongoing dispute between the administrative and government officials has landed the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister in a difficult situation; putting the top ministers under severe pressure in terms of decision making.

Although a notification in the regard has been issued to party leader Fayyaz Bhatti on the recommendation of PTI Central Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry, the remaining four markets have been left in a state of confusion and bewilderment in the wake of the current situations.

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Administrative leaders of PTI have shown unwavering support for appointing the young party leader Mailk Waqar in Punjab's largest market committee at Ravi Road in Lahore. Where, on the other hand, some provincial ministers have recommended the name of Gul Zaman for the same position. The strong support for the two candidates has left the authorities at their wit’s end on who to appoint in the province’s largest market committee.

The Multan Road market committee, which was once considered a relatively small committee, has gained greater significance following its merger with Raiwand Road market committee during the restructuring of the agricultural system. This has led to an intense tug of war between the Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal and Provincial Minister for Housing Mian Mahmood Al-Rashid for the appointment of a chairperson of the said market committee. Per sources, Mian Aslam Iqbal wants to appoint Bajash Niazi, a prominent politician from his constituency whereas Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed has been endeavoring to employ a candidate of his own, putting the two ministers at odds.

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On the other hand, Mansha Sandhu, a resident of Lahore has been trying to appoint his candidate Tariq Sindhu in the Kahna Kacha committee, but following the support of Fayyaz Bhatti by Ejaz Chaudhry, it has been decided that Tariq Sindhu will be rather appointed in the newly formed Akbari Market’s committee.

So far, Singhpura market committee is the only committee without dispute. For the appointment of chairperson and other positions, the party and the government will select the candidates nominated by party leader and PTI ticket holder Ejaz Dial, who has furnished two names, including Malik Safdar Raza and Chaudhry Mujtaba Ahmed.

According to sources, for long most governments have been appointing market committee members on political basis and the PTI has been criticised of such practices in the past. “But although the PTI government has decided to appoint politicians, at the same time it is being ensured that the system of market committees is made corruption-free with the use of modern information technology,” the source informed The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2020.