Cantonment boards unseat elected members

The elected representatives in cantonment boards (CBs) across the country have lost their status after the dissolution of 42 CBs across the country. Only the elected reresentatives have been unseated, whereas the representatives of the armed forces will continue to perform administrative duties.

In the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB), some 23 representatives belonging to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and one of Jamate-Islami (JI) have lost their seats on the board.

The elected representatives in both CBs of Rawalpindi division completed development projects worth up to Rs 70 million during their four-year-tenure.

The present RCB was constituted after local government elections in cantonments in April 2015. Board comprise Station Commander of brigadier rank, 12 civil members (10 elected and two special interest seats), nine nominated members by Station Commander, a first class magistrate nominated by the district management and two ex officio members.

Meanwhile, the political workers have started preparations for the next elections. A tough contest between PML-N and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is expected in the next elections of the cantonment.

The ruling party had not won a single seat in either RCB or CCB in the previous elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2020.