ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday approved a bill seeking to replace Islamabad’s existing local government structure with a three-council system, despite strong opposition from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers.
The bill was approved during a heated meeting of the committee chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, with PPP members accusing the government of delaying local government elections and creating a system that could give extensive powers to appointed administrators.
The development came a day after the federal cabinet approved the proposed local government framework, under which Islamabad would be divided into three councils, each headed by a mayor.
Under the proposed system, each council would have 21 members, including representation for general councillors, women and minorities.
During the meeting, PPP lawmaker Agha Rafiullah questioned the government’s intentions regarding local government elections and sought clarification over the legislative process.
“If the government wants to hold elections, then say it clearly,” Rafiullah said.
He questioned why the committee was still discussing an ordinance that was due to expire on September 5 and asked about the new bill reportedly approved by the cabinet a day earlier.
Law Ministry officials told the committee that even if the ordinance expired, the bill would remain before Parliament. However, they said the ministry had not received any new bill and were unaware whether such legislation had been approved.
The exchange highlighted confusion over the legislative route for implementing the proposed three-council system.
PPP opposes proposed system
PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Patel strongly opposed the proposed arrangement, alleging that the government had no intention of holding local government elections in Islamabad and Punjab.
“You are going to appoint administrators who will be given greater powers,” Patel said.
He also alleged that there were discussions about making Islamabad a separate province and rejected any such proposal.
Patel criticised the administration of the federal capital, particularly following recent heavy rains and flooding in parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“I will not support Islamabad becoming a separate province,” he said.
He further alleged that the proposed system could create an all-powerful administrator with no fixed tenure.
“You are going to appoint an administrator who will be a king, and there will be no fixed tenure,” Patel remarked.
He said the PPP would not support the proposed local government bill.
Chairman favours elected representation
Committee Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz said his personal preference was for Islamabad to have elected representatives and its own assembly.
“I want Islamabad to have its own representatives and its own assembly,” he said.
PPP MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar also suggested putting the matter to a vote, while Patel criticised the suggestion as political point-scoring.
Rafiullah maintained that the government should focus on strengthening existing institutions rather than repeatedly discussing the creation of new provinces and administrative units.
Minister defends Islamabad administration
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry briefed the committee on the situation in Islamabad following recent heavy rainfall.
He said the city had been cleared after the rain and only one roof-collapse incident had been reported.
Chaudhry rejected allegations of widespread encroachments and administrative failure in the capital.
“There are no encroachments in Islamabad and police stations are not being sold here,” he said.
He challenged lawmakers to compare Islamabad with other cities and said the government was prepared to defend its record.
“Do not criticise others merely to hide your own shortcomings,” Chaudhry told the committee.
Three-council plan
The proposed structure follows amendments introduced earlier this year to the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, replacing the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad model with three town corporations.
The three proposed councils broadly correspond to Islamabad’s three National Assembly constituencies.
The Election Commission of Pakistan had previously withdrawn the schedule for Islamabad’s local government elections following changes to the local government structure and electoral mechanism through an ordinance.
The changes forced the election process back into the legislative stage, with the ECP seeking fresh documentation and delimitation details from the federal authorities.
The commission had sought notifications defining the boundaries of the proposed town corporations, details of union councils and updated maps required for delimitation.
The committee chairman said Thursday that the delimitation process had already been completed.
However, political opposition and uncertainty surrounding the legislative process continue to raise questions over when Islamabad’s local government elections will actually be held.
The committee’s approval has cleared a key parliamentary hurdle, but the bill must still pass through the remaining legislative process before the new local government structure can formally take effect.
In-camera briefing sought on Balochistan
The committee also discussed the security situation in Balochistan.
Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz said he had written to the National Assembly speaker seeking an in-camera briefing on the situation in the province.
He said the speaker had responded that the security situation was not conducive to holding such a briefing in Balochistan.
Jamal Raisani questioned the decision, saying that if the speaker could travel to the province, members of the committee should also be able to visit.
Minister of State Talal Chaudhry said the government had again requested the prime minister to arrange a briefing on Balochistan.
He said efforts were under way to arrange a detailed briefing by the Balochistan chief minister and provincial interior minister.
The government also defended its security policy, saying security forces had been given full authority by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take measures aimed at improving the situation.
Chaudhry said the government had obtained details of 250 people who travelled to Islamabad before proceeding to Balochistan.
Rafiullah, however, accused the government of avoiding political engagement.
“The state is ready, but democracy is looking for an escape route,” he said.
He reiterated that the government should focus on improving existing institutions instead of creating new administrative arrangements.
