Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Following the verbal remarks of Islamabad High Court (IHC), the CDA has issued a notification of restricting transfers and postings from CDA to Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) till August 25.

The documents available with Daily Times make it quite clear that the future of employees of the CDA and MCI will be at stake.

As CBA aired its grievances after MCI came into being and it sought guarantees pertaining to 27 benefits and allowances which include plots, pension, legal, Audit and medical allowances. Failure to do so may deprive the employees of their rights.

Almost six months ago, the first ever Mayor of Islamabad, Sheikh Ansar Aziz was elected with 49 votes; since then, the dirty-politics and bureaucratic infighting has made the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad a powerless entity.

It has been observed by Daily Times that the top brass of the CDA has kept important directorates that turn in high revenues have been retained while the MCI had been given those 23 directorates that are concerned with maintenance and service provision.

At present, the whole scenario is going in the favour of CBA, IHC also quoted that the matter of transfer should be resolved by mutual understanding of both parties. It is quite possible that the matter about the transfer of 9 thousand employees to MCI be brought to an end.

A well placed source confided in Daily Times that the only way out is if both parties agree to transfer the said employees on the deputation of two years to MCI and in the meanwhile, the MCI will make its own regulations about employees, but till this is done, the MCI will follow the CDA employees service regulation 1992.

It must also be provided that after the span of two years, the transferred employees, on their wish may be reverted to the CDA or to be retained in MCI.

A source privy to development claims that this is the last and only solution to resolve the matter of transfer.

The residents of federal capital are humiliated as the water supply, water tankers, development work, sanitation, environment, DMA and other important and basic facilities were not being entertained by any authority.

The Mayor had also claimed that during the bifurcation of powers, the MCI has been dealt an uneven hand.

Furthermore, the Mayor and deputy Mayors are just enjoying the conveyance of five cars (owned by the CDA) and the peons for their office.

The four writs filed in Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the CBA, documents available with Daily Times, stated that no authority was transferred to the employees who were sent to another organization. It is worthy to mention here that the Chief Metropolitan Corporation (MCI) had issued a notification dated July 19, which stated all concerned formations are directed to route their cases through Chief Officer, MCI. Furthermore, all files and correspondence is to be titled as “Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad” with immediate effect. The administration of CDA also issued on August 4, restricting further transfers and appointments in the Authority.

It may be mentioned here that the CBA filed the writ under article 199 (1) (c) with article 8 (2) of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and challenge the vires of Islamabad Capital Territory Local government Act, 2015.

General Secretary CBA, Chaudhary Yaseen said while talking to Daily Times that Minister CADD Dr Tariq Fazal, Maroof Afzal, Chairman CDA, Member Administration Amir Ali and Mayor has told him that no discrimination will be practiced. “I don’t consider them authority. We’ll do what the court orders as we have full trust in courts of law”, he concluded.