September 17, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 9, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Sept 16: A central leader of the Awami National Party, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, has said the government is strengthening the hands of extremist elements by not allowing former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to contest elections.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the ANP leader said the government action would create an imbalance in the political structure of the country and the extremists would get strengthened, specially in the Punjab.

To save the country from falling into the hands of extremist elements there was a dire need to let both the former prime ministers play their role in the national politics, he said.

The ANP leader said the issue of the NFC award had been put in cold storage due to the dominance of Punjab as a result of which small provinces weren’t ready to cooperate with the government.

The issue, he said, had united the rest of the provinces against the Centre and the Punjab. The NWFP, he said, had Rs300 billion outstanding against the federal government and if the province was given that amount, the NWFP would witness much progress and prosperity.

Mr Bilour warned that the government’s refusal to take steps regarding distribution of powers and resources among the provinces would create further problems for the country.