05 February 2005	Saturday	25 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Nazims from three provinces took out a protest procession here on Friday for full implementation of the Local Bodies Ordinance, 2001, and against appointment of administrators for local bodies institutions.

Nowshera District Nazim Pervez Khattak had called the protest in which union nazims, naib nazims and other representatives of local governments from the NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh marched from D-Chowk Khyaban-i-Quaid and gathered in front of the Parliament House.

The protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans for the complete implementation of the local bodies ordinance and against the appointment of administrators.

Addressing the gathering, former president and Pakistan Millat Party chief Farooq Leghari said that people were in favour of the local bodies system which, he added, was helping to stabilize democracy at the grass roots level.

National Reconstruction Bureau chairman Daniyal Aziz, addressing on the occasion, said that in order to resolve the matter amicably he was in contact with those circles who were opposing the system.

He said several measures had been adopted to resolve the issue through dialogue and assured the protesters that he would take up the matter with the president and the prime minister. -PPI