ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Some 35 union councils would be established in the capital under local government (LG) system, a source told Dawn on Tuesday.
“Some 12 union councils already exist in the rural area of Islamabad,” he said. The number of union councils to be established in the urban area is stated to be 23.
The draft of LG Ordinance for Islamabad reveals that the area of a union council shall be a territorial unity and the population of all union councils would be uniformed.
The source said the Ordinance would be promulgated within a week.
According to the draft, each union council would have 21 members, of which 12 members would be elected to general seats, including four reserved for women, six members to the seats reserved for peasants and workers, including two for women, one member to be elected for minority seat, one Nazim and one Naib Nazim.
COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT COUNCIL: The ordinance said the district council would consist of all union council Nazims and members of reserved seats.
In the district council, 33 per cent seats would be allocated for women, five per cent for peasants and workers subject to a minimum of one seat.
FRANCHISE: The ordinance said members of all union councils would be elected through adult franchise and on the basis of joint electorate.
It said the electoral college for the election of district Nazim and Naib Nazim, reserves seats for women, peasants, workers and minorities in the district council would consist of all members of union councils.
MANIFESTO: Joint candidates for the seats of district Nazim and Naib Nazim will announce their manifesto containing the policies and programmes they proposed to pursue and implement, if elected.
QUALIFICATION: The draft said “a person shall be qualified to be elected or to hold an elective office or membership of the district government, if he is a citizen of Pakistan and not less than 25 years of age.”
The candidate should be enrolled as voter in the election rolls of the relevant wards having good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic junctions, the draft said.
It said candidates should have good reputation, academic qualification of not less than matriculation from recognized institutions and should not be a government employees.
The draft said the candidates should not possess assets, which are inconsistent with his declaration of assets or justifiable means whether held in his own name or of the dependents. He should not be adjudged a wilful defaulter of any tax or other financial dues owed to the federal, provincial, local government or any financial institution including utility bills outstanding or six months or more.
The candidate has not been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction on charges of corruption practice involving moral turpitude of misuse of power. Similarly, he has not been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, the draft ordinance said.
It said the candidates should not be failed in filing required returns of election expenses and has not been declared undischarged insolvent by any court.
The draft said the candidates should not be involved in any transaction involving pecuniary interest with the local government and should not absent from three consecutive meetings of the council.
The candidates should not fail to attend required training courses when required to do so by law and has not been involved in activities prejudicial to the ideology, interest, security, unity, solidarity, peace and integrity of Pakistan and its people.
The candidate could not use platform, symbol and flag of any political party.
NON-PARTY ELECTIONS: The draft of the ordinance said LG elections would be held on non-party basis. Therefore, no candidate could present himself as a candidate or a nominee of political party.
Similarly, they could not claim, draw or receive any financial or other assistance from any political party for elections. They could not bear, display or carry any document, sign, insignia, flag or any other thing indicating their association and affiliation with any political party.