ISLAMABAD: The federal government has started planning to declare Islamabad a division and bifurcate it into two districts, as it has demanded details of additional posts from different departments of the federal capital to finalise the proposal, sources in Ministry of Interior told Daily Times on Friday.
They said Islamabad High Court (IHC) about two and half years ago had given an observation that there should be two district and sessions judges in Islamabad, as there was only one district and sessions judge under the IHC and speedy disposal of cases was difficult for it. The IHC had directed the relevant departments to take necessary steps in this regard to provide speedy justice to people.
Although the observation was given considering the administrative situation, problems of the citizens and pending cases in the civil courts, Ministry of Interior is considering to divide the federal capital into two districts called North and South or East and West Islamabad, the sources added.
They said Islamabad’s division into two districts would not be easy because two districts would require two Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, two SSP Traffic, two Deputy Commissioners (DC), two ADC (R&G), two Tehsildars and other officers. At least 300 officers and clerical staff will have to be appointed to implement the suggestion of IHC, said the sources, adding, these officers will need infrastructure for their offices and they will also demand vehicles due to which over Rs 100 million will be required.
They said creation of two districts to accommodate the officers who wanted to get posted in Islamabad would put more financial burden on the government, which is already facing financial crunch.
The sources said the Ministry of Interior had advised the ancillary departments to inform about the additional vacancies, which will be necessary after the division of the Islamabad into two districts.
The sources said like other countries Pakistan was also facing financial and implementation of such decisions would further burden the economy and ministries. Extension of the Parliament Lodges project worth of Rs 2.9 billion is another example of such decisions, they added.
They said in case Islamabad was bisected into two districts all administrative departments would have to be divided into two parts. Police, traffic police, courts, Excise and Taxation Office (ETO), District Health Office, Revenue department, District Food Controller (DFC), Local Government and Rural Development, Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Auqaf, Zakat and Ushar committees will also be divided.
They said two districts would require two district magistrates and two sessions judges. As an administrative measure, Capital Development Authority (CDA) would also have to be divided in to two parts, as it provides municipal services and in case of any complaint against the employees or office the citizens can’t complaint in other district.
Daily Times
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