ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday reinstated Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz and allowed him to resume his official duties
The court heard the plea filed by the federal capital’s mayor who challenged a order from Interior Ministry suspending him for ninety days. In his petition, the federal government, Ministry of Interior and the local government commission were made parties to the case.
The mayor asked the court to direct the parties to work within the parameters of the law, stating that the action taken against his suspenion was illegal. He requested the court to nullify the federal government order and allow him to work till the final decision of the case pending in the court.
READ MORE: Islamabad Mayor suspended over corruption allegations
Last week, the federal government suspended Sheikh Ansar Aziz for ninety days over corruption charges. The mayor was suspended “with immediate effect for a period of ninety (90) days for fair conduct of inquiry under section 96, sub-section (1) of Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015 (X of 2015)”, read the notification issued by the interior ministry.
Earlier this year, a reference had been filed against Aziz alleging that he was abusing his powers, using staff for personal use, and operating official vehicles that were reportedly beyond his entitlement.
The reference was filed by Humayun Akhtar, a member of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the acting Chief Metropolitan Officer (CMO).
A local government commission led by PTI lawmaker Ali Nawaz Awan had recommended Aziz be suspended during the course of an ensuing investigation.
Awan is also the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on CDA Affairs, while Sheikh Sheikh Ansar Aziz belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
