PESHAWAR, Sept 28: The district assembly on Saturday was informed by the speaker that the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court would hold a ballot to elect members of the Capital Public Safety Commission.

He said that under the Local Government Ordinance 2002, district and sessions judge was not authorized to elect members of the Capital Public Safety Commission in a city assembly.

However, the district was empowered under the law to the same in other districts. Similarly, the election of the new chairmen for transport and justice committees, which had fallen vacant after the death of two Nazimeen Fayyaz Khan Khalil and Arbab Mohammad Hamayun Khan, were also deferred until Monday.

The district assembly session had been convened by the speaker Dr Iqbal Khalil to debate the modus operandi for the election of the six-member Capital Public Safety Commission, which according to the Police Order 2002, would keep a check on the police.

The speaker said that he was in touch with the CJ of the PHC and, as soon as he receives directives in this regard, he would convey to the members.

On the occasions, many Nazimeen expressed concern over the killing of two Nazimeen and asked the government to protect the elected members of the district government. They also offered Fateha (prayers) for the departed souls and asked the government to provide some kind of financial security to the families of the slain Nazimeen.

A resolution was passed unanimously, asking the provincial government to authorize the collection of professional tax to the elected members.

Most of the Nazimeen have complained the non-availability of teachers at the schools. Haji Mohammad Hanif of Pakha Ghulam Union Council said that the schools in the area were in a pathetic condition and needed repairs. He said that resolutions have been passed several times but in vain.

The speaker said that all the councillors should send their development schemes jointly under the Annual Development Programme, and no individual scheme would be entertained.

The speaker also informed that out of the total annual budget of Rs70 million for the year 2002-3, Rs30 million would be spent on development schemes in town councils, whereas, the rest, Rs40 million would be spent by the district council on mega development projects in the city.

Nazim Khawazakhela UC, said that the only girls school in his area lacked teachers. He said that the teachers are unwilling to be posted in rural areas, saying that they were paid low salaries there. He suggested that these teachers should be paid equivalent to their urban colleagues. District Nazim Azam Afridi warned that their attendance would be regularly marked.