May 12, 2002	Sunday	Safar 28, 1423

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MANSEHRA, May 11: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, has said that local government elections would be held in the tribal belt of Kala Dhaka in August this year.

In view of the special status of Kala Dhaka, the system of local government would be established there on the pattern of Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), the governor said, while talking to a 13-member delegation of the elders of Kala Dhaka which called on him in the Governor’s House in Peshawar on Friday.

The delegation was headed by the district Nazim of Mansehra, Mohammad Azam Khan Swati. Provincial minister Athar Minullah, secretary home and the Nazim of Oghi tehsil were also present at the meeting.

The governor told the delegations that the government was very much clear about its objectives and would take all steps for the development of backward areas.

While responding to some points raised by the elders of Kala Dhaka, the governor said the forests were actually the property of the people of the area, who were responsible for its protection.

He said the government was establishing committees at the local level for the forest management, so that the system of forest management could be improved through the public participation.

He said that safeguarding the rights of the people was the priority of the government and the usurpers of people’s rights would not be spared.

He said the activities of the timber mafia, drug smugglers, proclaimed offenders and outlaws would not be tolerated in Kala Dhaka, and added that the criminals could not continue their activities without the patronage of the local influentials.

The governor urged the elders to cooperate with the government and the law-enforcement agencies for maintaining law and order in the area.