Capital LG polls caught in limbo - again

The local government elections in Islamabad appear to have been thrown into uncertainty once again as the ordinance governing the local government system in the federal capital expired on September 6.

Meanwhile, a proposal to establish a separate Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Assembly has been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under the proposed 27-member assembly, 21 members would be elected directly by the people.

The proposed structure envisages an Islamabad Assembly, a chief executive and 27 administrative departments. The draft proposal has been presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by a high-level special committee comprising Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Musadik Malik, Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry, the two Islamabad members of the National Assembly and the interior secretary.

According to sources, the draft proposes establishing the ICT Assembly through an Act of Parliament rather than a constitutional amendment. It suggests creating seven assembly seats from each of Islamabad's three National Assembly constituencies, making a total of 21 directly elected seats.

The proposed assembly would have its own chief executive, while five seats would be reserved for women and one for minorities. The draft also proposes bringing health, education, environmental affairs and civic services under the local government.

However, law and order and Islamabad's master planning would remain under the federal government, while other administrative affairs would be transferred to the elected government.

The proposal also seeks to streamline Islamabad's fragmented administrative structure and redistribute the powers of various institutions, including the Capital Development Authority (CDA). It recommends transferring all CDA powers and functions to the ICT government and reallocating the functions of other institutions under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015.

The draft further proposes appointing a chief secretary and four secretaries to oversee the capital's administrative affairs. The four secretaries would be assigned responsibility for different administrative groups and departments.

According to sources, all institutions established in Islamabad would continue to serve the entire ICT, while federal institutions established to serve the country as a whole would continue functioning in the capital as before.