26 February 2004	Thursday	05 Muharram 1425

PESHAWAR, Feb 25: NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan Advocate has urged the provincial government and the governor not to lock horns over the proposed Hasba Act, and has asked for early tabling of the bill.

Speaking at the 'Mulaqaat' programme of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) here at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Bakht Jehan said that within a legal and constitutional framework a solution should be sought to resolve this vital issue.

The governor, he said, had the constitutional right to send back a proposed bill for reconsideration or to refer it to the Council of Islamic Ideology. When asked why the MMA government had not brought the proposed Hasba Bill directly in the provincial assembly rather than sending it to the governor, he refused comments, saying "it should be asked from a representative of the provincial government.

However, he said: "I have no doubt over the intention of the governor to delay the proposed Hasba Act." According to Mr Bakht Jehan, a law graduate from Karachi University who entered politics in 1979 by contesting district council elections and who has since won provincial assembly seat on three occasions, the MMA leaders should have linked their support to the federal government on the 17th amendment with a financial package for the province.

Unfortunately, he said, no government strengthened the democratic institution in the past. He added that the MMA government "cannot resolve the 56-years-old problems in one year."

Mr Khan expressed satisfaction over the performance of the NWFP Assembly and cooperation between the treasury and opposition benches.

He was appreciative of the role of standing committees of the provincial assembly, saying the provincial government would seriously consider the unanimous resolutions being passed by the Frontier Assembly, particularly regarding the abolishment of tax on private vehicles, weapons and residential plots. He also announced a Rs25,000 donation for the KhUJ on the occasion.