Islamabad mayor files petition against his suspension

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz has challenged his suspension in the Islamabad High Court on Monday.

On Sunday, the  Mayor was suspended for a 90-day period over corruption allegations, according to the interior ministry.

The interior ministry had issued a notification after the federal cabinet gave the approval to remove Mayor Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz from the post. The notification was issued by Joint Secretary Home Ministry Irfan Anjum.

According to the notification, “Aziz 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)”.

Mayor Sheikh Anser is accused of alleged misappropriation of funds by awarding a contract for inter-city bus service to a company of his choice. 

Sheikh Ansar Aziz filed the petition to cancel the earlier notification issued by the ministry by allowing him to resume office till the court decided the matter.

In his appeal, the federal government, the local government commission and Ministry of Interior have been made parties to the case.

In the petition,  the mayor requested the IHC to order the parties to work within the parameters of the law. “The action taken against me is illegal,” Aziz maintains in the petition.

In 2019, a reference had been filed against Aziz in which it was alleged 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 and the acting Chief Metropolitan Officer.

A local government commission led by PTI lawmaker Ali Nawaz Awan had recommended Aziz be suspended during the course of an ensuing investigation.