MCI vice chairmen to move SC to get powers

Islamabad

The Vice Chairmen of majority of Union Councils (UCs) of the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) have decided to take on MCI Mayor and UC chairmen for transfer of powers to the level of vice chairmen and councilors.

Vice chairmen of over 30 out of 50 union councils of Islamabad met here at residence of one of their colleagues in Sector H-13 to wage struggle for their rights. The vice chairmen decided to move the Supreme Court of Pakistan with request for directions for devolution of powers to the level of vice chairmen and councilors. “As the local government system in Islamabad has come into being through directions of the Supreme Court, therefore, we have decided to file a petition with the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” one of vice chairmen who attended the meeting said.

The meeting observed that presently all the powers and discretions are being enjoyed by the mayor, deputy mayors and chairmen of union councils. “As the chairman and vice chairman are elected with one vote, therefore, we should also have the rights equal to them,” the participants of the meeting observed.

The meeting also passed a resolution demanding two seats of deputy mayors for vice chairmen of union councils. Another resolution passed by the meeting said the vice chairmen should also be made part of the MCI Assembly.

One of participants when contacted told ‘The News’ that shortly, they would hold another meeting in which over 40 vice chairmen would turn up. The Friday’s meeting was attended by vice chairmen of union councils elected on tickets of PML-N and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).

The meeting observed that deputy mayors and chairmen of UCs have also been appointed as focal persons and special members while vice chairmen have again been ignored. The sources said that resentment among vice chairmen and councilors was prevailing for the last many weeks but now they have decided to wage struggle to get their rights. “We are being ignored whereas we are also elected representatives.”