Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The first ever metropolitan government in the federal capital territory, has been victimised from all four sides just after its birth, as chairmen of different Union Councils(UCs) have started to work for strengthening land grabbers. But the newly elected Mayor of Islamabad has reiterated his resolve to break the myth of the land mafia .

Some influential people have their illegally owned land declared as national heritage from the Prime Minister’s Secretariate at Shah Allah Ditta , a suburb village of the federal capital, and got billions of rupees from the national kitty. This tore away the policy of the new Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz, of working on merit, into pieces.

But the Mayor is dedicated to save the money of the national exchequer as he expressed his perseverance to revise the spot of national heritage by holing a comprehensive survey.

Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz during the meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, showed his commitment for the provision of clean portable water to the citizens of Islamabad on a war footing basis. The PM told him to bring water from Ghazi Barotha Dam to Islamabad through a special grant. The work on the project has already been commenced.

The Mayor Islamabad held a consultative meeting for the provision of clean drinking water to the citizens of Islamabad, during which almost 60 per cent UC’s chairman from rural areas, said that first of all their constituencies should be provided water, as clean drinking water would be their second priority. They told the Mayor that due to non-availability of water, the women of their areas are forced to fetch it from the wells situated at far flung places. The Mayor assured them that water would be available in all areas of Islamabad within one year.

The Mayor of Islamabad in a private gathering said frankly that his top priority was to free Islamabad from the clutches of the land grabbing mafia. He also said that this would be done no matter if some stalwart of ruling PML (N) may come into its grip. He would accomplish the task without considering the consequences.

On the other hand , a powerful group led by State Minister Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary has devised a plan to go against the vision of Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz.

They want to take credit of each and every project of the metropolitan government so that the election campaign of Dr Tariq Fazal for the next polls might be run on the basis of local government achievements.

Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary had promised before the local bodies elections to construct four hospitals in the federal capital, but it proved only a tall claim from the state minister as not a single one has even been inaugurated .

At the very beginning of the metropolitan government, the state of affairs is going towards the point that Deputy Mayors do not bother to listen to the instructions of the Mayor. Almost all the Deputy Mayors and Chairmen UCs are working to protect the land mafia at the behest of Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary.

The Deputy Mayors are talking about the State Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary in every meeting as they are trying to give an impression that the metropolitan government is standing with his support , but the Mayor does not like such speeches.

The sources said that the newly formed Metropolitan government Islamabad would function direct under Ministry of Interior and Mayor has told all the problems to Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, who assured him that he (Mayor) might work without any fear and hesitation as no hurdle would come in his way.

The Interior Minister also appreciated the vow of Shiekh Ansar to clean Islamabad from the grasp of land mafia.