04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

PESHAWAR, June 3: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, on Thursday asked the provincial government's Nifaz-i-Shariah Council to address all the misconceptions attached with the proposed Hisba law before proceeding further in the matter.

The governor made it clear to a three-member delegation of the council, which called on him, that law-enforcing agencies, including anti-corruption establishment, were also on the ground, therefore, the impression about Hisba Act as being a parallel system needed to be dispelled.

The delegation was headed by the council's chairman, Mufti Ghulamur Rehman, and it included Mufti Kifayatullah and Maulana Hussain Ahmad. They held discussions on different issues including the proposed Hisba Act.

The provincial cabinet has few days ago referred the proposed Hisba law to the governor for the third time for approval. It was agreed upon during the discussion that proper steps had to be taken to remove certain reservations in different sections of society about the proposed Hisba Act.

The governor also made it clear that since possibility of establishing Muhtasib institutions at provincial and district level already existed, therefore due consideration was imperative before proceeding further in the matter so that misconceptions on this issue of vital importance could be removed.

On a point, the governor said that a reconciliation and mediation mechanism for resolving differences and problems at the grassroots level was already there in the new local government system.

The proposed recommendations of Education Commission also came under discussion and it was unanimously agreed that the purpose of education should not be obtaining degrees and certificates only but it must focus on character building and proper grooming of individuals.

It was also noted on the occasion that promotion and development of science education was also necessary to promote positive and constructive trends in society. Moreover, proper explanation of religious thoughts in order to remove various social hurdles and taboos hindering the promotion of education, particularly that of girls education, was also needed.

It was hoped that the proposals and recommendations of the education commission in this regard would prove to be a guiding force. The governor also agreed to the point that some basic and concrete reforms had to be brought about to restore confidence of the people in the educational institutions.