Thursday, December 8, 2011

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa renews demand for commissionerate system

Reiterating the demand for revival of the commissionerate system in the province, the Khyber Pakhtun-khwa government on Wednesday asked the federal government to review amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) or else it would take up the issue at the upcoming meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Briefing journalists after the provincial cabinet meeting here, Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had approved certain amendments to CrPC for the revival of magistracy system on December 20, 2008 and sent it to the federal government for implementation but it didn’t get any response till date.

“The cabinet meeting discussed one-point agenda in order to remind the federal government our plea for the revival of commissionerate system in the province,” Mian Iftikhar said, adding that the system was unfortunately withheld in Sindh and Balochistan after its revival in the recent past.

In reply to a question, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the provincial government had agreed to the creation of new divisions for improving the administrative structure once the ongoing census results were made available.

“Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has already announced the establishment of Abaseen division. The Malakand division will be divided into two divisions according to the wishes of the people,” he added.

Mian Iftikhar said the secretary home presented the proposed draft of administrative structure at divisional and district levels in which the deputy commissioner would have the same powers as was the case prior to 2001. He said a new post of development officer to oversee uplift works in the district had also been proposed in the draft.

“However, the cabinet members disagreed with the proposed draft and demanded the revival of the old magistracy system,” he said. The cabinet members also condemned the Nato air strikes in Mohmand Agency and termed it an open blow to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. It demanded of the federal government to reassess the policy regarding the US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Mian Iftikhar also appreciated the role of respective district administrations and security forces for maintaining law and order during Muharram. He ridiculed the remarks of Interior Minister Rehman Malik thanking the Taliban for not attacking Ashura events and reminded that the terrorists had made desperate attempts to strike in Kohat and Hangu districts by firing rockets at the mourning procession during Muharram.

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