PESHAWAR, Sept 15: The contract period of Qazis in the Provincially-Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) has been extended for three years till their regularisation under the Shariat Nizam-i-Adal Regulation.

An official handout said that NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq presided over a meeting held here on Friday, to review the working conditions of Qazis and Muawan Qazis and took necessary decisions.

The meeting was informed that the extension would be valid with effect from the expiry date of the current contract.

It was told that incentives for Qazis and Muawan Qazis had been discussed while a case for giving facilities enjoyed by grade-17 officers as per directives of the senior minister was in final stages. Mr Haq said the people of Malakand supported decisions made under regulation in consultation with Qazis despite some shortcomings and limited powers of Qazis.— Bureau