MANSEHRA, Oct 23: District Nazim Azam Khan Swati has threatened that he will step down if the government does not confer powers on him under clause 2 of the local bodies’ act.

Speaking at a public meeting here on Monday, he lamented the high crime rate in recent weeks in the district and held the Mansehra police responsible for it.

He accused the SSP of not cooperating with him to control the deteriorating law and order situation, saying that kidnappings of children, robberies and killings had become the order of the day in the district.

The Nazim asked if he was supposed to maintain law and order, why the government had not given him powers to rule over the police.

He also accused the bureaucracy of being involved in a conspiracy not only against him, but also against the smooth running of the affairs of the local bodies.

He said that it all was being done to sabotage the system of local bodies.

Mr Swati said he would meet the NWFP governor to discuss the matter, and warned that if the governor did not grant him the powers under the local bodies act, he would resign.