Cabinet committee to seek legal advice

Islamabad

Not satisfied with response of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) on appointment of the Mayor of Islamabad as chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the standing committee on cabinet has decided to take opinion from the constitutional experts and the Ministry of Law.

The standing committee on cabinet which met at the Parliament House with Senator Talha Mehmood in the chair discussed in detail, the constitutional and legal aspects with regard to appointment of an elected representative as the CDA chairman.

Chairman of the standing committee and two senators including Kulsoom Parveen and Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi raised questions on giving additional charge of CDA to the mayor during Tuesday’s meeting.

The CDA chairman who could not attend committee’s last meeting was called to the meeting through summons by the committee chairman.

Federal Secretary CADD and Additional Secretary while referring to articles of the Constitution, tried to justify government’s decision to give additional charge of CDA chairman to the mayor.

However, the committee chairman and other members decided that final directives with regard to the issue would be issued after taking constitutional and legal opinions from the Ministry of Law and constitutional experts.

The committee members observed that they have no doubt in capability of Shaikh Anser Aziz but it should be seen as to whether an elected representative could hold a government office.

Senator Talha Mehmood during the meeting observed that the provinces should also be given representation in the regulatory authorities.