ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: The District Council Islamabad, to be established under local government (LG) system, will consist of about 840 councillors.

According to the LG ordinance for the capital, some 40 union councils (UCs) will be established in rural and urban areas, each having 21 members. Out of these members, 12 will be elected to general seats, including four reserved for women; six to the seats reserved for peasants and workers, including two for women; one to minority seat; one union council Nazim and one Naib Nazim.

The district council will consist of all Union Council Nazimeen and members elected to reserved seats. In the council, 33 per cent seats will be allocated for women and five per cent for peasants.

According to a source, 12 UCs already existed in the rural areas, but in urban areas the same were yet to be established. The number of UCs to be established in the urban areas is stated to be 28.

The area of a union council will be a territorial unity. The population of all UCs will be uniformed.

The ordinance said members of all UCs will be elected through elections based on adult franchise and joint electorate.

It said the union council members would form the electoral college for the election of district Nazim and Naib Nazim, reserves seats for women, peasant, workers and minorities in the district council.

An informed source told Dawn that the LG system in the capital was to be different from other district governments established in the country as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the district council would work together under the district Nazim.

A Federal Capital Commission (FCC) will be formed, comprising eight members, including current members of the CDA board and technocrats.

The source said, if the district council took a decision contrary to the CDA Ordinance 1960, the authority could challenge it before the FCC.

The interior minister will also be called chief executive Islamabad and enjoy the powers similar to those of the governor of a province.

The FCC would be headed by the secretary interior, and district Nazim, CDA chairman, district council and police were to work under the commission.

The district Nazim will be elected and district coordination officer is to be appointed, who will work under the District Nazim. There will be no Tehsil Nazim in the capital.

According to the ordinance, the LG elections will be held on non-party basis. Therefore, candidates cannot claim, draw or receive any financial or other assistance from any political party for elections. They cannot display or carry any document, sign, insignia, flag or any other thing indicating their association and affiliation with any political party.

The tenure of the local government will be for four years, commencing from the date of taking oath of office by members as notified by the government.