IHC restores Sheikh Anser Aziz as Islamabad mayor

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court on Thursday allowed Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz to resume his official duties, setting aside the Interior Ministry’s earlier orders for his suspension for 90 days The high court heard the plea filed by the federal capital’s mayor today, who challenged the ministry’s order. IHC judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani issued orders and restored Sheikh Anser Aziz as Islamabad mayor and suspended the notification of his suspension issued by the federal government. On Monday, Sheikh Anser Aziz challenged his suspension in the Islamabad High court (IHC). Mayor pleaded before the court to suspend the interior ministry order and restore him to the position of mayor. In his petition, the federal government, Ministry of Interior and the local government commission were made parties to the case. In his petition, the mayor asked the court to direct the parties to work within the parameters of the law. "The action taken against me is illegal," Aziz maintained in the petition. 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. Earlier on Sunday,  the federal government suspended Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz over corruption allegations for 90 days. The interior ministry issued a notification after federal cabinet gave the approval to remove Mayor Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz from the post. According to a notification of Interior Ministry, the step has been taken for fair conduct of inquiry under section 96, sub-section (1) of Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 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. He is a close friend of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and was elected as Mayor Islamabad in 2016. It is pertinent to mention here that the Local Government Commission (LGC) Friday recommended suspending Mayor of Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz on account of miss use of powers. An important meeting of the LGC was held here under the chairmanship of MNA Ali Nawaz Awan. During the meeting, Chief Metropolitan Officer Syeda Shafaq presented a corruption reference of Rs40 million pertaining to intercity transport stops against the mayor of Islamabad. After the commission members’ voting, chairman Ali Nawaz Awan recommended the suspension of the mayor to the interior ministry.