Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The local bodies elections were held in November last year and finally the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad has hammered out its by-laws and rules of procedure for the conduct of its business.

Both the treasury and opposition benches at the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad have unanimously passed the by-laws, the rules of procedure and the conduct of business of the local bodies representatives.

The Bill spells out the mode, type and nature of meetings and makes it compulsory for the corporation to meet at least once every month. It also provides for three different kinds of meetings namely ordinary/regular meetings, special meetings and emergency meetings. All the meetings will be convened at the meeting hall of the MCI or a place approved by the mayor.

The bill gives due heed to the notices of the meetings, agendas of the meetings and the publication of notices. On the front of the quorum it requires the presence of at least 25 per cent of the total membership. If a decision is made in the absence of the quorum it will be invalid.

In order for a decision to be made by the MCI it needs a simple majority of the total membership. Both the general public and the media (print and electronic) can hear the meetings of the MCI.

Provisions have been given for the order of business, the mode of asking questions. The mayor has been given the authority to reject any questions which he may deem irrelevant, unlawful, unjustified, non-serious, vulgar or any matter subjudice before any competent court.

About the motions and their initiation, the amendment, withdrawal and discussion procedures have been provided in the bill. The bill empowers the presiding officer to maintain discipline and during the meetings of the House. The bill also spells out the procedure and provides for the holding and adjournment of the proceedings.

Miscellanies cover such aspects like the address of any unelected person, expert opinion, attendance of officials and corporations, review of resolutions or decisions of the corporation

The mayor or the House has been trusted with the powers to constitute committees and subcommittees as they deem fit. Matters related to the removal and filling of vacancies, convener for a committee, proposals, meetings and the quorum have also been covered in the chapter.

The Chief Metropolitan Officer, Asad Mehboob Kayani, said that directions had been given to the chairmen to rent out the premises for their offices. “In sectors a place can be rented for as much as one hundred thousand rupees and in the rural areas the limit is 50,000 rupees,” he said.

The mayor, speaking on the occasion said that the dignity of the members would be respected and those who won’t work would face strict action. He also formed a five-member committee on the worsening water situation of Islamabad.