February 26, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat on Tuesday said Local Government Ordinance and Police Order-2002 have a complete legal cover under Legal Framework Order (LFO) and as such no major change could be made in them by the provinces.

“Provinces are not empowered to make major amendments to the both laws. However, slight procedural changes can be made in consultation with the federal government,” he told reporters after attending a seminar on “Challenges and Solutions in Cyber Security” at a local hotel.

The minister said the provinces had also been directed not to violate both the newly-implemented systems and if they faced any problem in their implementation, it could be resolved in a constitutional manner.

Speaking about demands of some provinces regarding changes in Police Order-2002, he said the centre had so far not received any written complaint in this regard.

“The provinces concerned have been asked to send their written reservations to the federal government so that action could be taken for their redressal. National Police Research Bureau has also been directed to hold meetings with the inspector-general police of each province to listen to their reservations on the order,” he said.

Replying to a question about ‘Million March’ of the Jamaat, the minister said the government had not restricted political parties to hold demonstration on Iraq issue. However, he was of the view that the march would not attract the masses.

Answering a question about reports of former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the United States for medical treatment, the interior minister said his case would be examined by the government when a formal application would be sent in this regard.