June 11, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1424

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PESHAWAR, June 10: Rejecting the resignations of the Frontier’s 24 district Nazims, President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday asked the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government to restore the Nazim’s powers delegated to them under the Local Government Ordinance-2001 in 10 days.

Gen Musharraf, who paid a day’s visit to the provincial capital, held a meeting with the disgruntled Nazims, who had tendered resignations on June 1 against alleged interference by the provincial government.

The meeting, held at the Governor’s House, was attended by Governor Syed Iftekhar Hussain Shah, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, NRB chairman Daniyal Aziz, provincial Minister for Local Government Sardar Mohammad Idrees and other senior officials.

A spokesman for the local government department confirmed that President Musharraf had directed the provincial government to restore powers of the district government pertaining to postings and transfers in the districts.

The spokesman said: “The row between the provincial government and the district Nazims has been resolved. The president has advised both sides to avoid a confrontation and solve all matters with mutual consultation.”

Peshawar city district Nazim Azam Afridi told dawn after attending the meeting that Gen Musharraf had asked the chief minister to restore the powers of the district governments and issue a notification in 10 days in this regard.

He said the president had turned down the resignations of the district Nazims.

Mr Afridi said the Nazims would withdraw their resignations after the provincial government issued a notification.

Mr Afridi said: “Chief Minister Durrani has assured the president that the provincial government would abide by LGO-2001 and the notification would be issued in seven days,” adding: “I am fully confident that the provincial government will follow the president’s guidelines.”

Swat district Nazim Dr Mehboobur Rehman said during the meeting, the president had categorically said that he would not let anyone destabilize the local government system. The president, Mr Rehman said, had conveyed a very clear message to the provincial government and the district Nazims would withdraw their resignations.

He said the president had also directed the provincial government to constitute an independent commission to conduct an inquiry against the two district Nazims who are facing corruption charges.

The MMA government had tabled motions in the provincial assembly against Bannu district Nazim Malik Iqbal and Kohistan district Nazim Maulana Ubaidullah and constituted a special committee to take action against them.