President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have reiterated their firm commitment regarding holding of the forthcoming local government elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. The two leaders, who met here Friday, said that a level-playing field would be ensured to all contesting candidates in the local government elections and no one would be allowed to influence the elections.
The president and the prime minister discussed at length the Khushal Pakistan Programme which was being launched in the current financial year. The programme lays emphasis on health, education and social sectors.
They reviewed measures being undertaken for provision of clean drinking water to the entire population and rural electrification, which would be completed within the next three years.
They also exchanged views on the initiatives being taken for vocational training to offer better job opportunities to the youth.
Shaukat Aziz informed President Musharraf about the draft Anti-money Laundering Bill approved by the federal cabinet, as well as Anti-land grabbing Law so as to curtail land mafia and added the Illegal Disposition Act, 2005 had already been approved by the Parliament, which would help check land grabbing.
The government was also working for the automation of land record to check bungling. The Illegal Disposition Act would let no one grab the land of poor people and any victim of land mafia could apply to session Judge directly and Session judge would be responsible to conduct inquiry within fourteen days and could issue repossession orders.
The president appreciated the measures being undertaken by the government and said they would be very beneficial for the uplift of the masses.
Praising the Illegal Disposition Act and Anti-money Laundering Bill, he hoped that these measures would help in the recovery of land belonging to the poor people and provide them with swift justice, while Anti-money Laundering Bill would facilitate recovery of looted national wealth and deter those indulging in this illegal practice.
During an hour long meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on the regional and international situation.