On July 17, the Supreme Court had asked the capital administration to ensure that local bodies’ elections are held in both urban and rural areas. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad administration, in compliance with a Supreme Court order, has submitted three proposals to the interior ministry for conducting local bodies’ elections in urban areas of the federal capital.
The draft of the proposals was finalised and submitted to the interior ministry after a series of meetings between the officials of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and Capital Development Authority, ICT spokesperson Rana Akbar Hayat told The Express Tribune.
The move came following a Supreme Court orders recently directing the government to hold local bodies polls throughout the country, including the federal capital.
On July 17, the Supreme Court had asked the capital administration to ensure that local bodies’ elections are held in both urban and rural areas.
The apex court’s remarks came after the ICT administration had informed the court it was ready to hold elections in rural areas only.
The residents of the urban areas will not have representation in local government until laws that govern the local bodies in the federal capital are amended. The Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance 1979 does not permit local government elections in urban areas of the city.
Sources in the ICT administration told The Express Tribune that under the first proposal, the 1979 ordinance would be implemented in urban areas. District councils would be established in rural areas, while municipal committees would be set up in urban areas. District councils were set up in rural areas in the past.
The second proposal envisages a metropolitan corporation system in which urban and rural areas would be divided.
The source said the chairman of the metropolitan corporation would oversee the affairs of the city but minor issues like issuance of birth certificates and sanitation would be handled separately in urban and rural areas. The chairman would look after developments projects.
According to the third proposal, the metropolitan corporation’s chairman would directly oversee the affairs of the capital. This system envisages a uniform pattern of municipal administration and there would be no divide between rural and urban areas.
Sources said the ministry would finalise one of the three proposals and the draft would be submitted before the National Assembly.
A senior official of ICT, requesting anonymity, said the third proposal would help overcome problems being faced by residents of villages and end the distinction between rural and urban areas.
The ICT administration exercises control over 20 union councils in rural areas.
Residents have long complained that rural areas are neglected in terms of infrastructure development and civic facilities.
In October 2012, the Islamabad High Court had also ordered the government to hold local government elections within six months. The deadline passed in April, but elections have still not been held.
Islamabad district was created on July 1, 1980, as an independent district under the administrative control of the Punjab government, which was later handed over to the federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2013.
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