Vice chairmen ‘revolt’ against mayor

ISLAMABAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Islamabad

The angry vice chairmen of ruling PML-N and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) disappointed with behaviour of Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz have decided stay away from him, not to meet him and his close aides in future.

During a meeting attended by 30 vice chairmen of PML-N and 10 vice chairmen of PTI, a 12-member committee which would decide future course of action for the sake of their rights, was constituted. “We have decided that in future we will not meet the mayor and deputy mayor and will take the legal course to get their powers and rights,” Matin Khalil, the UC-33 vice chairmen and representative of the dissident group said.

The committee would comprise six members each from PML-N and PTI. This is second meeting of vice chairmen and it is considered as revolt against the mayor. The meeting observed that the Supreme Court while ordering Local Government elections had observed that it would devolve powers to lower level. “Instead the powers are confined to mayor, deputy mayors and chairmen whereas the vice chairmen and councillors are without any powers and role,” the meeting observed.

The meeting decided to move the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking directions of powers for vice chairmen and councillors. The meeting also rejected elections of councillors on seats reserved for peasants and labourers. “Majority of councillors elected on these reserved seats does not qualify to be peasants and labourers,” Matin Khalil after the meeting told 'The News'.

He said the meeting also observed that whenever they went to meet the mayor, they were advised to come through their respective chairmen for solution of your problems. “Both chairmen and vice chairmen were elected with one vote therefore, they should have equal rights and powers,” he said.