MCI hearing on increase in tax, water charges marred by protest

Islamabad:The first day of public hearing by the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) on increase in property tax and water charges was marred by strong protest by citizens, business community and people from other segments of society here on Monday.

The MCI having no elected representatives had announced two-day public hearing before giving final shape to new rates of property tax and water charges in Islamabad. 

Ex-MNA from Islamabad and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam also led a a delegation of residents from different sectors of the federal capital and business community turned up public hearing.

As the public hearing was continuing, Mian Aslam and other participants boycotted proceedings while strongly protesting proposed 200 percent increase in property tax and water charges for Islamabad. The participants left proceedings of the public hearing while raising slogans against management of the MCI.

Later, Mian Aslam and other representatives of the business community told media that they would not allow any raise in property tax and property by bureaucrats who are running affairs of the MCI. " No change in rates of property tax and other charges are possible without elected representatives," he said adding that they would hold protest demonstrations at chowk and roads of Islamabad against MCI administration.