The National Assembly on Wednesday passed The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2015, to rationalise and reorganise the local government (LG) system in the federal capital. The bill was moved by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and proposed holding LG polls in Islamabad on party basis.
The bill states that after practising the local government system — which was introduced through the Federal Capital Local Government Ordinance 1979 and lasted till 1996 — there is a strong realisation that urban and rural areas have been receiving disproportionate financial resources which disregard local needs of particular areas.
It further said that this inequitable allocation of resources led to inefficiencies in effective delivery of services sought to be provided under the local governments and the Constitution of Pakistan.
“Furthermore, in this age of specialisation, it is strongly felt that the delivery of municipal services both in urban and rural areas require targeted focus involving specialised expertise, skills and professionalism so as to identify the local needs of people with sharp precision and meet them in full adherence to the corresponding inviolable rights of the people guaranteed under the Constitution,” the bill added.
The bill further states that a new local government system is proposed so that an accountable local government is formed by empowering it to shoulder the political, administrative and financial responsibility at a local level through elected representatives in order to alleviate the grievances of the general public.
Earlier this month, the apex court allowed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to delay LG polls in Islamabad given the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the bill pending before the Senate.
The Supreme Court had reluctantly allowed the ECP to notify a new schedule for the polls if it becomes necessary due to a delay in the passage of the bill.
Earlier, 15 MNAs – six from PTI, four from MQM, two from PML-N, one independent lawmaker and one each from PPP and PkMAP – participated in debate on the bill.
The sitting was marked by low attendance of lawmakers with 22 legislators (6%) present at the start and 38 (11%) at the time of adjournment. The quorum was visibly lacking at various stages of the sitting, however, it was not pointed out by any of the members.
The House also took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding increase in the prices of fertilizers and pesticides, decreased prices of agricultural products and the delay in payments. Another CAN about dilapidated condition of Chakdarra to Mingora road was not taken up by the House.
Two reports of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs regarding the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Electoral Rolls (Amendment) Bill, 2015 were not presented.
Two bills – the Pakistan Halal Authority Bill 2015 and the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Bill 2015 – were not introduced while the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 was also not presented before the House.
Five resolutions seeking extension in period of five ordinances including the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, the Countervailing Duties Ordinance 2015, the National Tariff Commission Ordinance 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance 2015 and the Publication of Laws of Pakistan (Regulation) Ordinance 2015 were not tabled in the House.
The House did not discuss a motion of thanks to express gratitude to the President of Pakistan for his address to the joint session on June 4, 2015 whereas the authenticated copy of President’s address was not presented. The House did not take up a commenced motion under rule 259 regarding deaths in Sindh and other areas due to heat wave.
