CHAKWAL, Feb 6: Federal Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal on Sunday said the government had accepted the demand of the provinces that sitting nazims and councillors should be relieved from service prior to holding of the local government elections to ensure transparency.

Talking to the press at his residence, the minister said district coordination officers were likely to replace the district nazims for an interim period of four to five months.

Replying to a question, Mr Iqbal said troops had been deployed in Sui just to ensure security of national installations. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was making all-out efforts for a political settlement in Balochistan.

The minister said some people with vested interests did not want to see Balochistan prosper, therefore they were hindering uplift projects initiated by the government in the province.

He said dialogue between political parties was a democratic norm, adding that dialogue process between Pakistan People's Party and the government was underway because President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz wanted cordial relations with the opposition parties. Therefore, he said, the opposition should also behave in a positive manner and there should be a consensus on national issues.