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| July 25, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
Officials asked to remain neutral in LB polls
ABBOTTABAD, July 24: NWFP Minister for Local Government Sardar Mohammad Idrees has said that the provincial government has issued directives to all officials to remain neutral in the forthcoming local body polls and added that the government was providing full assistance to the Election Commission in this regard.
He was talking to newsmen at the press club here on Saturday.
The minister said that no new scheme or project would be initiated by the interim set-up except the repair works for which administrative approval would be granted and work on all ongoing schemes would continue.
Sardar Idrees said that local body elections were being held on non-party basis, but local adjustments would be carried out by parties at their own will in which all parties were free to take their decisions.
Answering a question, the minister said that the MMA government in NWFP was in good working relations with all the political parties to serve the interests of the province.
Earlier, secretary-general of JUI (F) Abbottabad district Shakeel Akhtar Jadoon announced decisions of a party meeting that the JUI (F) would contest the forthcoming elections under the banner of Mutahidda Group and would hold talks for seat adjustment with other groups.
NRB PLAN: A member of the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) has said the basic idea behind the devolution of power plan was to create a sense of participation in government affairs among the general public.
Speaking as chief guest at the concluding session of a workshop on capacity-building organized by the Media and Governance Cell of the NRB at the Abbottabad Press Club on Saturday, NRB member Naeemul Haq said that the process of devolution of powers from the centre to provinces was in its last stage and the NRB was making efforts for strengthening the new system.
A visible change had been noticed in all sections of life, especially in the improvement of infrastructure, he added.
The workshop was attended by journalists from electronic and print media, representatives of NGOs and bar members.
Mr Haq said that suggestions and proposals to improve the new system would be welcomed. He said the role of the press in this respect was vital. He urged the public to take an active part in the forthcoming local body elections and cast their votes on merit.
Earlier, NRB consultant Dr Tariq Niazi and Habib Usmani briefed the participants about the salient features of the workshop.
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