SHIKARPUR, Nov 19: Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mr Abdul Razzaq Thaheem has rejected the statements made by some politicians that the government will replace district nazims with administrators three months before the local bodies' elections.

Talking to newsmen here on Friday, he said that no recommendation had been made for the appointments of the administrators as yet. He said that it would not be justified without amending the relevant law and added that the President Gen Pervez Musharraf was empowered to make amendments in the rules of elections for local bodies.

Answering a question, Mr Thaheem said that the local bodies would complete their tenure according to the law after which their elections would be held and the president would announce the schedule.

He said that though the system of local bodies was an old one, the president had introduced a new system of district governments by devolution of power to provide people basic amenities and resolve problems at their doorsteps. Answering another question, the federal minister said that huge funds had been released to district governments for development works.

Our Sukkur Correspondent adds: Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Abdul Razzaq Thaheem has denied that the government is considering replacement of nazims with administrators before the forthcoming local bodies elections.