‘Constitutional amendment needed to alter CDA board’

Labour union tells IHC that federal govt's move is illegal

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has sought answers from the federal interior secretary and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairperson on the reconstitution of the civic body’s board.

A single-member bench of IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani presided over the petition filed against the federal government on the reconstitution of CDA's board.

CDA Labour Union had filed the application against the federal government’s move that it had deemed as illegitimate.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Kashif Malik, contended that the reconstitution of the board could not be reformed without a constitutional amendment, adding that the government’s decision was a violation of the IHC's previous orders too.

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The lawyer cited the IHC verdict as per which a civil servant could not be deployed as a CDA board member.

Malik added that as the CDA amendment ordinance became ineffective in September 2018, all recruitments made onward in the authority were illegitimate.

After listening to the arguments, the court summoned an official of the additional secretary level from the interior ministry and a representative of CDA chairperson in the proceeding on June 25.

Meanwhile, the IHC disposed of a case after the Islamabad police informed that the suspects who had tried to kill a girl, hailing from Gujranwala, for honour have been arrested.

A single-member bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah presided the case pertaining to provision of shelter to a girl and her sister who had fled home after an honour killing attempt for contracting free-will marriage.

At the onset of proceeding, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tayyab Shah submitted the report of police action against the suspects.

He said that the police had booked the victim’s brother and father.

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Further, DAG added that Islamabad Inspector General Police (IGP) has also sent a copy of the first information report (FIR) to the Punjab Inspector General (IG). Shah said that further inquiry into the incident would be carried out by the Punjab police.

He added that the capital police were providing fool-proof security to both sisters currently residing in a shelter home.

At this, Minallah remarked that the complaints of the victim have been addressed and disposed of the case with certain directions. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2020.