ISLAMABAD: The first ever mayor of Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Sheikh Anser Aziz and three deputy mayors took oath of their offices on Friday.

In a ceremony held at Jinnah Convention Centre, District and Sessions Judge Iram Niazi administrated the oath to mayor and his deputies. The mayor and deputy mayors, Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, Azam Khan and Chaudhry Riffat Javed all belong to ruling PML-N.

A large number of newly elected local representatives/chairmen of Union Councils belonging to PML-N and PTI attended the ceremony and extended their good wishes to newly appointed mayor and deputies.

State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, political secretary to the prime minister, Asif Karmani, adviser to the prime minister Barrister Zafarullah, MNA Malik Abrar, MPA Raja Hanif and many others attended the ceremony.

Speaking to mediapersons, Sheikh Anser said he would develop the federal capital.

“We have long term and short solution for the city’s probles,” he said and added that in the short term projects, services and solid waste management will be improved. Later on, we will move towards setting up a landfill site, implementation of building parameters and other important issues,” the mayor said.

He said strict action will be taken against land grabbers. To a query, he said the drive against non-conforming use of residential houses will continue.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2016