The National Assembly on Monday approved the Islamabad Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 with a majority vote.

The bill, presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir, sparked a heated debate between government and opposition members, leading to a walkout by Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the session, during which Law Minister Azam Nazir clarified that the Judicial Commission and Parliamentary Committee can appoint senior High Court judges as Chief Justice, in response to a query by Barrister Gohar.

The Minister emphasised that the Chief Justice can only proceed with Supreme Court matters in accordance with the Constitution.

Text of Islamabad LG Amendment Bill 2024

The Islamabad Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 introduces several changes to the Islamabad Municipal Elections Act, significantly increasing the number of elected representatives at the Union Council level.

Previously, the Union Council had only two positions: Chairman and Vice Chairman. Under the new bill, 15 additional representatives will be elected alongside these two positions, bringing the total to 17 representatives per Union Council.

The composition of the Union Council now includes nine general members, one representative each for farmers or laborers, minorities, and youth, as well as three women. This amendment aims to ensure broader representation within the local government structure.

During the National Assembly session, reports from various standing committees were also presented. These included the Standing Committee on IT’s report on the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Authority Bill 2024, the Standing Committee on Defense's report on the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill 2024, and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs' report on the Apostille Bill 2024. Additionally, the report of the Standing Committee on Privatization on the Privatization Commission Amendment Bill 2024 was presented.

Minister for Law Nazir Tarar introduced the Federal Capital Local Government Amendment Bill 2024 for approval during the session. The Law Minister explained that the proposed bill would increase the number of wards in Islamabad from six to nine, with representation expanded to include youth, farmers, and technocrats. This amendment is part of the ongoing process to conduct local government elections in Islamabad, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of local governance.

PTI walkout over Balochistan incident

The session, presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, saw PTI members, led by Umar Ayub, walk out in protest. The PTI voiced strong condemnation of a recent incident in Balochistan, criticizing the Speaker for conducting normal proceedings without addressing the issue. Umar Ayub demanded that the situation in Balochistan be discussed for two days, emphasizing the gravity of the incident.

Government-PTI exchange

The walkout did not prevent a robust exchange between the opposition and government members. Opposition member Atif Khan questioned the government's commitment to holding elections on time, referencing the last local body elections in Islamabad, held in 2015, which faced numerous challenges.

In response, government representative Tariq Faz Chaudhry acknowledged the difficulties but downplayed the impact of a slight delay in the elections.

Criticism of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi

PTI member Asad Qaiser also criticized Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during the session, questioning his ability to manage security and calling for his resignation. Qaiser attributed recent security failures in Balochistan to Naqvi's incompetence and called for governance in line with the constitution and law.

Government’s response

In response to Asad Qaiser’s remarks, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ata Tarar accused PTI of contributing to the rise in terrorism, citing their role in bringing back the Taliban. He expressed solidarity with the martyrs and injured, attributing the current security challenges to PTI's policies.