GILGIT, April 25: The Chief Executive of Northern Areas, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Sunday ruled out any increase in the Northern Areas Legislative Council seats and decrease in age limit for the NALC elections scheduled to be held on Oct 12-13.
He was presiding over meetings of Northern Areas cabinet and local administration here to review the law and order situation and the ongoing development projects in Northern Areas, sources told Dawn.
Mr Sherpao directed the advisers to monitor progress on projects and asked them to focus on proper, efficient utilization of developmental funds. The minister attending the meeting on law and order said the issue should be given top priority.
He also said the code of conduct had been signed by the representatives of all sects and it should be followed in its true spirit. The politicians being the representatives of the people should play a positive role in promoting sectarian harmony and cohesion among the people of the area.
Regarding the issue of Chilmisdas area, the minister said that the court had given its decision on the case and it should be followed in its letter and spirit. He asked the Food and Agriculture Adviser, Sheikh Ghulam Haider to help implement the court's decision.
The meetings were also attended by the Northern Areas Legislative Council, Speaker Haji Sahib Khan, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chief Executive of Northern Areas Fida Mohammad Nashad, members of NA Cabinet and Advisers, Chief Secretary Farid Khan, Inspector General Police Maj-Gen (R) Sakhiullah Tareen and other high ranking officials, the sources said.
Meanwhile in another development the Northern Areas Legislative Council has submitted its recommendations to the federal government regarding increase in general seats of the Council for approval, official sources told Dawn.
The source said that the report of NALC standing committee regarding the proposals for enhancement of the NALC general seats, increase in women seats and enforcement of the newly-introduced local government system in Northern Areas was debated by the NALC recently.
The legislators after taking a exhaustive debate on the issue finally passed the proposals for enhancement of five general seats, three additional seats for women and enforcement of the District Government System in NAs with majority votes.
The sources confirmed that these recommendations had been sent to the federal government for final approval before the Northern Areas general election, if approved, would be held for 37 including eight seats for women.
