Senior Minister in NWFP Cabinet, Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Thursday said that a number of cases relating to corrupt practices in the local bodies system have come to limelight, adding that inquiry into these cases was in progress.
Addressing a workshop regarding amendments and reforms in the local bodies system for the members of the provincial assembly held here at a local hotel, he dispelled the impression regarding abolition of the present local bodies system in the province.
He said that after completion of the period of the present district governments, transparent and party-based elections would be held to convert the system according to the wishes of the people.
The senior minister said that due to loopholes in the local bodies system, the provincial government was confronting problems in tackling matters relating to law and order and provincial autonomy. He said that an amendment bill relating to the local bodies system had already been prepared, which would be tabled in the provincial legislature shortly.
Later, talking to media, he said that militants of Swat would have to lay down their weapons and implement the peace agreement for holding further dialogues with the provincial government. The militants, he said were misusing the name of Islam, adding that what they are doing is totally against Islam. He said that the writ of the government would be established at any cost.
To a query regarding the issuance of the list of 86 people by militants and summoning them to their court was an attempt to create panic and harassment amongst people. However, he reiterated that the government was ready to hold negotiations with militants but, they would have to disarm themselves first. Regarding the inclusion of the proposals of Maulana Sufi Mohammad of the TNSM in the Nizam-e-Adl Regulations, Bilour said they have been included in the draft and sent to federal government for consideration.