Despite opposition from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior has approved the Islamabad Local Government System Ordinance Bill 2025.
During the committee meeting, PPP lawmaker Abdul Qadir Patel said the PPP would not vote in favour of the local government bill.
“You will not get our vote on the local government bill,” Patel said.
In response, the committee chairman said, “Then let’s hold the voting.”
The committee subsequently approved the bill despite the PPP’s opposition. The chairman also said that the PPP’s dissenting note would be included in the committee’s report.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that land grabbing and police stations were not for sale in the federal capital.
He said Islamabad had been cleared after the recent rains and added that the government’s performance could be discussed.
Patel, however, questioned the situation regarding illegal housing societies and land grabbing. He said he had not raised the issue on his own and that the committee itself had called for records concerning illegal housing societies and encroachments.
Patel also said Karachi could not be compared with other cities, apparently referring to differences in the administrative and local government systems.
The committee chairman asked members to avoid political discussion during the proceedings, saying the committee had gathered to discuss facts.
The approval of the bill comes despite the PPP’s stated refusal to support the legislation, setting the stage for further political debate over the proposed local government system in Islamabad.
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