ISLAMABAD: After the National Assembly discussed stopping the 5pc deduction in salaries of government employees, members of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) session on Thursday said the amount, which is deducted to repair and maintain government houses, should be transferred to the MCI so it can carry out maintenance work as proper repairs have not been carried out thus far.

Because of a union council councillors` protest, the house could not reach a consensus on fixing the salaries of the mayor and deputy mayors, as well as other members of the house, councillors and the vice chairmen. The house postponed the agenda item claiming the councillors were trying to blaclcmail the MCI for a raise in the proposed salaries, and the house would not succumb to the pressure.

Members on both sides of the aisle also discussed the Spc deduction in salaries and said the collected funds were not being utilised on houses.

The National Assembly recently passed a resolution calling for an end to the deduction from the salaries of government employees allotted official accommodationin the federal capital. The resolution was presented by an opposition MNA from Islamabad, Asad Umar, who called the deduction `haram` because the government, despite taking the deduction in the name of repairs, does not spend the money on maintaining houses.

According to the procedure, the Ministry of Finance collects the 5pc from the salaries and then releases the funds to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Estate Office.

However, most of the time, both organisations are unable to entertain applications from government officials due to a shortage of funding.

At the MCI session, Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf chairman Malik Rafiq and Shahzad Anjum, supported by members of the treasury benches, demanded the funds be transferred from the finance ministry to the MCI so local representatives can carry out the repairs.

Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz directed the CDA to provide the complete details of the funding it receives from the federal government in this regard.

He told Dawn: `We will discuss the issue at the next meeting. These funds should be given to the MCI for proper repairs and maintenance of government houses.

During the session, a group of councillors also protested outside the Pak-China Friendship Centre where the session was held against the house`s proposed Rs20,000 monthly honorarium for councillors. Councillors and union council vice chairmen are not members of the house.Rifts within MCI members also emerged after the protest, which led to suggestions to be postponed until the next meeting.

During the session, Qazi Adil, the head of a committee formed to propose honorariums for the elected local government representatives, proposed Rs125,000 for the mayor, Rs100,000 for the deputy mayors, Rs80,000 for union council chairmen and MCI members elected to indirect seats, Rs40,000 for vice chairmen and Rs20,000 for councillors.

The PTI proposed that the mayor receive Rs100,000 a month while deputy mayors receive Rs80,000 per month.

While Mr Adil was briefing the committee, he was interrupted by opposition members who said their recommendations were not included in the proposal.

PML-N`s Sardar Mehtab Khan, meanwhile, criticised the protesting vice chairmen and councillors, saying: `It is the prerogative of this house to approve or fix the salaries as per the Local Government Act and nobody from outside to this house can force or blackmail us.

He demanded that the agenda item be postponed or dropped, and other members agreed to postpone the matter.

The house also discussed the water shortage in Islamabad, and the construction of the Chirrah and Japan dams. Some members also proposed a dam in Bhara Kahu, and the PTI criticised the government for failing to resolve the city`s water issue.

The ruling party also passed a resolution expressing confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.