PESHAWAR, June 10: The Sarhad Awami Forestry Ittehad (SAFI), a network of forest related organizations and people, on Thursday asked the provincial government to constitute a parliamentary committee to review the NWFP Forest Ordinance, 2000
, which it is was a flawed piece of legislation.
Office bearers of the network stated that after reviewing the controversial ordinance, the committee should submitits recommendations to the assembly which should amend the law.
On completion of two years of the controversial ordinance, the activists of SAFI staged a protest demonstration in front of the Peshawar Press Club which was followed by a press conference addressed by president of SAFI, Riaz Mohammad Khan.
The protesters claimed that due to the promulgation of the NWFP Forest Ordinance, 2002, the entire forestry sector reforms programme started in 1995 had gone down the drain. They added that the ordinance was in deviation from the provincial forest policy which was evolved after marathon consultation.
"The reforms process was aimed at replacing the outdated colonial laws relating to forest with a new law in which emphasis would be given on community participation, but through the present ordinance the entire process has been reversed," said Mr Riaz.
Large number of members of SAFI from Swat, Kohistan, Dir and Hazara region participated in the protest demonstration. The participants were carrying placards and banners carrying slogans and messages against the policy makers of forest department and the forest law.
