Local govt polls in Capital by August

Published January 30, 2002

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Local government will be established in the federal capital by August this year, a meeting held here at National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) decided on Tuesday.

Interior Minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider, NRB Chairman Lt Gen (Rtd) Tanveer Naqvi, interior secretary, CDA chairman, deputy commissioner, Islamabad and other officials attended the meeting.

The meeting, however, did not decide about the exact date for holding local government elections. “It would be announced later after the completion of required work like delimitation of wards in urban area, preparation of voter lists etc,” the meeting decided.

“Both the CDA and district administration would be abolished and capital administration commission (CAC) would be formed comprising 8 members including present members of the CDA board and technocrats.”

The commission will evolve policies and the District Nazim would work under the CDA board.

The interior minister would also be the chief executive of Islamabad and enjoy the powers of provincial governor.

A secretary for Islamabad Capital Territory would also be appointed under whom the police department of Islamabad would function. The inspector general (IG) would be answerable to the secretary.

A district coordination officer (DCO) will also be appointed who will work under District Nazim. There would be no Town Nazim in Islamabad, the meeting decided.

Some 16 departments of the federal government including health, education, PWD, environment, municipal administration, hospitals, police etc. would work under the DCO.

The meeting also decided that some 22 union councils would be established in both rural and urban areas of Islamabad.

All powers of the CDA board would go to the CAC and the post of chief commissioner/ CDA chairman would be abolished. A managing director would be appointed as the CHA head who will report to the District Nazim.

The posts of deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner (general) and senior superintendent of police would also be abolished.

“The SP investigation, SP law and order and SP administration will directly work under the IG.”

Regarding the disposal of judicial matters, settlement issues, land utilisation, excise, food, transport and teaching hospitals, the meeting decided that these matters would be settled later by the NRB and interior ministry mutually.