The National Assembly on Wednesday passed "The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 2015" paving a way for party-based local government elections in federal capital. The National Assembly had passed this bill on March 26, 2015 by rejecting an amendment moved by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to hold local government elections on a party basis in Islamabad and referred it to Senate.
The Senate passed the bill on July 9, 2015 after thorough discussion and incorporating some amendments and referred it to the National Assembly under 18th Constitutional Amendment. Now there were two options for the Lower House of the Parliament under 18th Constitutional Amendment either it approves the amended bill passed by the Senate or to refer it to joint sitting of the Parliament by raising objection to it for final approval.
But, the National Assembly did not raise any objection to the amendments made by the Senate in the Bill and approved it with majority. The Bill was moved by Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman in the House for approval. The House passed the bill with majority. The bill, among other things, envisages holding of local government elections in Islamabad on party basis. A ruling to amend clause 25-b by the Senate was also passed by the House, whereby a youth candidate must be over the age of 25 to hold a seat. According to clause 25-b of the Bill, "Qualification for Candidates, A person shall qualify to be elected as a member or to hold an elected office of a local government, if he: is the youth, is not less than twenty five years of age on the last day fixed for filing the nomination paper."
While speaking on the floor of the House, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the government accepted all amendments presented by the opposition on this piece of legislation in the Senate. He said that it is aspiration of all political parties to hold local government elections not only in Islamabad but across the country. We also accepted the recommendations of opposition for holding local government election on party basis, he said.
He said it is for the first time that Local Government Elections will be held in Federal Capital. He said the PML-N Government held local government elections in the country in 1987, 1991, 1998 and going to hold these elections now. He rejected the impression that the undemocratic governments held local government elections for more times than the elected governments.
Asad Umar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that there is clerical mistake in clause 25-b of the bill in the definition of youth. He said that two MNAs and Senators each of Islamabad constituencies should be included in the Local Government Commission and there is no need of the Leader of House and the Leader of Opposition of the National Assembly and Senate nominating two each senators and MNAs. Asif Hussnain of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that the powers should be given to Mayor in the local government and there is no need of any body or commission. He said that the federal government should only constitute a body to monitor the actions of local representatives. He said that Local Government should not be under federal government. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Bill should be referred to Standing Committee of the House to revisit it in one or two meetings. Jamshed Dasti, Imran Zafar Laghari, Ghulam Sarwar and other members also said while discussing the Bill that maximum power should be given to local representatives.
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