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Friday March 29, 2024

Islamabad Citizens Committee concerned over growing encroachments

By Obaid Abrar Khan
August 27, 2016

Islamabad: Islamabad Citizens Committee has expressed its deep concern over lack of civic amenities and mushroom encroachments in various sectors of the federal capital.

While highlighting various problems being faced by the residents of the capital at a press conference, the Committee’s President Latif Ahmad Rana and other office-bearers said the beautiful Islamabad has become ugly due to negligence of Capital Development Authority (CDA).

He contended that the residents are being denied their lawful rights. Long awaited local body elections were held in December, 2015 with efforts of various organisations including Islamabad Citizens Committee and after a verdict from Supreme Court.

But, he deplored that till now the elected members have been sitting idle and helpless, with no powers or authority. The decisions for functioning of local bodies in Islamabad, regarding powers of elected members and resources, in line with municipal corporations of other major cities were left to be decided later. He regretted endless discussions in government quarters are continuing on the subject with no fruitful results.

He was of the view that the municipal’s resources were being availed by the VVIP/VIP's (elected representatives) from all over the country and senior bureaucracy, while the common man is deprived of the same and his problems have been left unattended.

In order to continue this state of affairs, the local body’s representatives were not being handed over their due administrative powers.

Latif Ahmed Rana demanded that adequate powers, in accordance with elected bodies of other cities, be handed over to the Local Body’s representatives of Islamabad forthwith. Otherwise, he added they would be left with no choice but to follow alternate courses of action to highlight the plight of citizens and get their civic problems solved.