RAWALPINDI, Aug 6: The Rawalpindi Tehsil Council members on Tuesday staged a walkout from the session and accused the Nazim of devising discriminatory policies against some union councils.

The members, including Raja Zahid (union council 85), Assad Mughal (uc-26), Chaudhry Ijaz Anwar (uc-92), Chaudhry Tahir Matloob (uc-27), Haji Tahir (uc-43), Tariq Bin (uc-42) and others alleged that the last year development works had not been started in their respective union councils so far.

“The work orders have been issued but the development works have not been started on the different projects in their union councils,” they said.

Later, the speaker, Sajjad Khan, adjourned the proceedings for about 15 minutes, as the House was lacking quorum after the walkout staged by some members. He along with some members then persuaded the protesting councillors to attend the session.

The speaker also directed the Tehsil municipal officer to prepare a detailed report on the complaints of councillors.

When the session started, Sumaira Gul drew the attention of the House towards some union councils where development works had been stopped due to differences between the Nazim and the Naib Nazims.

The House also rejected the lighting tax contract. Those who spoke against it included Sohail Pasha, Chaudhry Malik Dad and others. They argued that the lighting tax of Rs1.7 million won’t bring any substantial benefit to the TMA and would further burden the common man.

A resolution presented by a lady councillor for allocating land in Sherpao Colony for a hospital was approved. She opposed the provision of land on lease or auction saying this area was thickly populated and a hospital was needed there.

However, the members did not approve a resolution for recruiting new sanitary workers on contract basis. The speaker informed the House that the existing 1,700 sanitary workers were enough to maintain cleanliness in the Tehsil. He asked the sanitation department in charge, Moazzam Ali Janjua, to furnish him with a complete list of existing sanitation workers and their station of duties. Despite spending the amount on the salaries of these sanitary workers, it should be used for development purposes, he added.

Another contract of Rs15.6 million for providing petrol and diesel to the garbage-removing vehicles was approved only for three months. The members objected to the contract on the plea that instead of spending such a big amount on the fuel, the removal of garbage should be given on contract. The three-month approval was given only to check within this period as whether or not anyone was available for the contract.