ISLAMABAD: Opposition members of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz, saying that the mayor’s step to link new construction with a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for utility connections has created problems for residents.

The MCI session at the Pak-China Friendship Centre saw charged speeches from several opposition members who blamed the mayor for a ban on construction in the capital’s rural areas.

The CDA recently directed the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) not to issue utility connections without a CDA NOC, which deals with building plans.

Treasury and opposition members of the MCI said this ban had added to the difficulties facing rural residents, who are not provided any municipal services by the CDA.

The session was not attended by the mayor, and was instead chaired by deputy mayor Chaudhry Riffat Javed. Opposition members, who were also supported by some treasury members, chanted slogans against the mayor for imposing the ban on construction. Opposition leader Ali Awan said the mayor and acting Chief Metropolitan Officer Asad Mehboob Kayani had been toying with MCI members by saying that 23 CDA departments had been devolved to the corporation even though employees and funds have not been transferred.

He said MCI members have to run from one CDA office to another to acquire funding for small development works. Mr Awan said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) would petition the Islamabad High Court for the MCI’s share from CDA land auctions, since the federal government had not released any funding for the capital’s development budget.

PML-N member Malik Ishtiaq said Mr Kayani had failed to deliver, and should be removed and replaced by a permanent chief metropolitan officer.

MCI members also pointed that while there are no offices for union council chairmen, the mayor and chief metropolitan officer were enjoying facilities at their lucrative positions. They said the mayor’s day was spent outside the judicial complex during hearings of the ousted prime minister while he avoided chairing MCI sessions.

Deputy mayor Syed Zeeshan Naqvi said the CDA should change its zoning regulations to protect the rights of locals from Shah Allah Ditta, Sangjani and other areas. He said that in its recent ambiguous advertisement, the authority had declared these areas part of Zone III and imposed a ban on land transfers.

During the meeting, Mr Awan alleged that Mr Javed was a patron to water thieves in the Pind Bagwal union council.

In response, Mr Javed said he had never supported anyone in stealing water from the main Simly Dam water line and claimed that locals had told him that the local PTI chairman was providing illegal water connections to two housing societies.

The matter was referred to a committee that has not yet been formed to be properly investigation, at the request of the opposition leader.

The house also discussed the current water shortage and said the CDA and MCI had not done enough to tackle the issue.

The house was informed that due to lower rainfall this year, the total supply from Simly Dam has been refused by 10 million gallons of water to ensure water is stored in the dam until the expected spring rainfall.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2017