Mayor’s posting as CDA chairman challenged in IHC

The handing over of chairmanship of Capital Development Authority to Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz has been challenged in Islamabad High Court.

In the writ petition, copy available with Pakistan Today, filed in Honorable Court the notification of giving acting charge of CDA chairman to mayor is described as “illegal, unlawful, coram non judice, violative of the principles enunciated by the superior courts of the Pakistan regarding the appointments of the Head of the Public Institutions.”

The petition questions the taking of “major and important policy decision” by the part-time chairman,, citing that “civil servants are subject to discipline and command of the Statutory Law i.e. Civil Servants Act, 1973 against whom action can be initiated, in case of any violation/lapse” while no such action can be taken against private persons. The notification issued on September 6has also been termed “a violation of principle of legitimate expectancy” as mayor had been preferred over hundreds of government officers for the post of chairman.

The petition prays that the notification issued on September 6 that gave Shaikh Anser Aziz charge of chairman calls for an appointment of regular chairman of CDA and Shaikh Anser Aziz should be restrained from taking major and important decisions including posting, transfer, appointments, etc.

The petitioners Raja Ahsan Satti and Umer Abbasi filed their petition to IHC through council Supreme Court Advocate Raja Shafqat Khan Abbasi and Advocate Ambreen Anwar Raja.

The tug of war between local bodies’ representatives and bureaucracy started immediately after the former took oath. Recently the mayor has transferred, repatriated, side-lined and initiated inquiries against the former high-ups of civic authority. At present CDA Board has no Member Administration, Environment, Estate/Land and recently Waseem Ahmed Khan, Member Planning has been repatriated after his extension was withdrawn by Establishment Division. Despite repeated attempts, Mayor and acting Chairman, Shaikh Anser Aziz was not available for a comment.