NOWSHERA, Jan 16: The District Council Nowshera on Tuesday castigated growing corruption in the district courts and demanded action.

The district council, which met under district Nazim Pervez Khattak, through a resolution, drew the attention of the government to what it called “growing corruption” among readers, stenographers and other subordinate staff in the district courts.

The mover said that the poor people were no longer able to pay bribes and seek justice. He demanded of the chief justice of Peshawar High Court and district & sessions judge Nowshera to look into the matter and take immediate action.

Another resolution demanded inquiry into corruption by patwaris in the land record and settlement department.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the intransigence of Indian government for refusing to initiate peace talks with Pakistan and defuse tension on the border.

It resolved that the nation would stand fully united in the face of any Indian aggression.

The members endorsed and supported the speech made by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and urged the international community, particularly the United States and Britain, to put pressure on India and persuade it to withdraw its troops from the border.

Earlier, district Nazim assured the council that recruitment in the police department would be done purely on merit. He said that the SP of Nowshera would carry out recruitment on merit and no influence and pressure would be accepted in this regard.

He said that Rs330 million allocated for developmental schemes would be spent on the welfare of the people. He said that he would support every move to combat and uproot corruption in government departments.

He said the resolution regarding corruption in the district courts be handed over to the justice committee and the issue be taken up with the district and sessions judge.