Daily Times

Uncertainty reigns in Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (MCR) as it becomes a battlefield for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The officials of the public body express worries due to political influence in the administrative decisions.

Rawalpindi Mayor, Sardar Naseem Khan, is from PML-N while the 2018 general elections saw PTI taking lead on all provincial and national assembly seats. A direct consequence is an ongoing tug-of-war between the two parties as they exert influence to secure and strengthen their political status in the city.

MCR officials, on the condition of anonymity, noted that PTI’s elected member(s) and its allies from Awami Muslim League (AML) were continuously interfering in the administrative matters of the department; forcing the chief officer to depute their favourite employees on key positions.

Sources said that former Municipal Officer of Planning (MOP), Shehzad Haider, was removed from his post over having good ties with Rawalpindi Mayor.

Abdul Salam has been posted in his stead on the alleged influence of PTI member of National Assembly (MNA).

Earlier, the appointment of the clerk as head of the MCR’s anti-enforcement department was a dispute between the local leadership of PTI and PML-N.

Sources said that the anti-encroachment campaign and measures against illegal construction were badly affected due to political influence.

Officials, including MCR’s Chief Officer, are worried due to the growing political influence in the administrative decisions of the department.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the MCR and other civic bodies were also facing political influence from the ruling-PTI.

Former Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Asim Ayub, was transferred from Rawalpindi only after 20 days of his posting due to the political influence.

Sources relayed that some appointments are being made in the RWMC on a daily basis to please the elected members of PTI.

Moreover, Young Doctors Association (YDA), on Friday, suspended the Out Patient Department (OPD) as a protest against the suspension of former Medical Supretendient (MS) of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Dr Tariq Niazi.

He was suspended on February 4, after his telephone conversation with Punjab Law Minister, Basharat Raja, of December 2018, was leaked.