Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has said the federal government would not allow wastage of huge national wealth in the name of enforcement of Shariah and for accommodating party workers.
He was responding to the queries of newsmen, after offering Fateha for the departed soul of former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan at his residence here on Sunday.
When asked to comment on the proposed passage of Hasba Bill by the NWFP Assembly in the current session, he said the matter should be made transparent after thorough discussion by the political parties.
"The federal government would not allow any decision taken in this regard in haste," the minister said, adding the issue would be discussed threadbare from every angle.
Durrani said the passage of Hasba Bill aimed at accommodating party workers on key posts out of merit, which is a mockery of principles of Islam. He advised the MMA leadership to keep in view all the aspects and refrain from spending Rs 8 billion on the implementation of Hasba Bill.
Muhammad Ali Durrani said the federal government has taken serious notice of celebration of more than one Eid in NWFP, and said that it is now the responsibility of the MMA government to initiate inquiry into it and take measures to ensure this practice is not repeated. The NWFP government, he added, should fix responsibility of early announcement of Eid and punish the culprits accordingly.
In reply to a question about installation of caretaker government much before the schedule of elections, he said it would be a disgrace of the people's mandate.
He elaborated that the present government believed in the change through ballot in accordance with the aspirations of the masses.
Durrani also clarified that elections would be held on schedule and those talking of premature elections are the ones who are carrying their resignations in their pockets. This is also against the confidence reposed in them by the people, he added.
Referring to a question about agitation by Opposition parties, the federal information minister said that any change in the government would come through votes. The time has gone of dethroning governments through conspiracies, anti-government movements or backdoor tactics.
He said masses have rejected agitational politics and referred to failure of 18 such agitations in the past.