The NWFP Assembly on Tuesday unanimously elected Ameer Haider Khan Hoti as leader of the house in the NWFP assembly. Speaking on the occasion, Hoti said that the unanimous election had sent a positive message that the priority of all members was serving the cause of the province.
"No doubt, we are political people having affiliations with different political parties, but the message given today is the joint struggle for the rights of the province," said the Chief Minister in his maiden speech.
He recalled the elections were held in an uncertain situation of high tension and lawlessness, which claimed the life of the PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and those killed in bomb blasts in Swat, Charsadda and other parts of the province.
He paid tribute to the civil society activists, lawyers, print and electronic media, whose aim was to bring the country out of the prevailing situation. He said that the restoration of the law and order was on the priority list of the new provincial government.
"The people of the province have paid a big price and they have no more capacity to absorb further destruction," added Hoti. "Our priority is the restoration of peace and formation of Jirga to hold negotiations with different groups," he said, adding that the unity that the house had shown had proved it the largest Jirga of the province. He said that the message of the unanimous election was clear that people wanted joint struggle for the rights of the province.
He said that the use of force should be the last option for restoration of peace, but unfortunately in past it was used first option, which deteriorated the situation.
"We are neither terrorist nor unruly and want to live with love and peace, Hoti said, adding: "We are not interested in wearing suicide jackets and guns, but want to replace it with pen and development." Hoti said that the clear-cut message of the house was that people wanted reformation, and said that the province was also facing shortage of police and Frontier Constabulary.
He said that they constituted Jirgas for holding negotiations, but warned that no compromise would be made on the lives and property of the people in the province. He vowed that the struggle for the achievement of provincial autonomy and right over the resources of the province would be waged jointly.
He said that the provincial autonomy would be extended to political, fiscal and financial sectors, otherwise there would be no solution to the problems of the country.
The newly elected Chief Minister welcomed the 100-day plan announced by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, saying that that the plan reflected aspirations the of the people. He said that the Prime Minister had given a comprehensive programme on provincial autonomy and other matters.
He paid tributes to central leadership of coalition partners, and lauded the role played by Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Asfandyar Wali Khan. Earlier, provincial President of PPP Rahimdad Khan congratulated Amir Haider Hoti on his unanimous election as leader of the house, saying that the province was facing the problems of illiteracy, poverty and renaming the province.
He said that the province was also facing problems of the lack of development, unemployment, and expressed the hope that Chief Minister would take the house along with him. On behalf of the PPP, he offered his full co-operation to the Chief Minister, saying that PPP would play the role of a bridge between provincial and Federal governments.
Others who spoke included Akram Khan Durrani, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Pir Sabir Shah, Pervez Khan Khattak, Qalandar Khan Lodhi, Nighat Yasmin Orakzai, Mehr Sulana, Kishore Kumar, Abdul Akbar Khan, Israrullah Khan Gandapur, Malik Mohammad Qasim, Ghanidad Khan, Sanjeeda Yousaf, Syed Zahir Ali Shah and Fazalullah.
Earlier, the specially summoned session of the assembly, with Speaker Kiramatullah Khan in the chair, announced the election of the leader of the house through adopting procedures 214 and 215 of the Rules and Procedures of the assembly.
In response to the call of the Speaker, all the 113 members present in house supported the election of Hoti as leader of the house. Later, the newly elected Chief Minister took oath of his office from Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani in a ceremony held at Governor's House here.
A large of senior political leaders, including Asfandyar Wali Khan, Azam Khan Hoti, Begum Nasim Wali and senior government officials attended the ceremony. The proceedings of the assembly was also watched by central President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan, provincial President Afrasiab Khan Khattak and former federal minister for communication and father of the Amir Haider Hoti, Azam Khan Hoti.
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