PESHAWAR, Nov 16: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that launching the Hasba system would cost less than Rs80 million a year. Reacting to a statement of federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani on the issue, he said the federal minister had declared the passage of the bill by the NWFP Assembly unconstitutional without any logic and reason.

The chief minister said in a statement issued here on Thursday that federal minister’s remarks reflected his lack of understanding of the bill and amounted to criticism for the sake of criticism.

He said the Mohtasib would not be a parallel authority, rather it would help law-enforcing agencies improve their performance and also provide speedy justice to people.

The chief minister said those who declared the bill unconstitutional were unaware of the constitution.

"The bill was presented in the house in the light of a Supreme Court decision after making amendments and inviting opinion and proposals from people of different schools of thought," the chief minister argued.

He said the bill was not meant for creating any parallel system or subduing the government’s opponents but it was aimed at facilitating the people of the province.

He said that the governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan had already made such laws.

He said the federal minister had estimated expenditure on the Hasba system at Rs8 billion, which was beyond his understanding.

The chief minister said the Hasba system would resolve petty matters with consent of rival groups and help reduce the burden on the courts.

He said the system would provide speedy and affordable justice to people and the government would only have to bear a cost of a few million rupees.

He said remarks like those made by the federal minister would create doubts among people about the bill and democratic minded people should not criticise lawmaking in provincial assemblies.

He said that in the present global scenario a tussle between the federal and provincial governments would not be a good omen for the people of the country.

He held out the assurance that honest people would be appointed Muhtasibs and their decision could be challenged in the high court and the Supreme Court.

"Making laws in the interest of the people of the province is our constitutional right and we will never compromise on that.

“The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government, despite having majority in the house, has often preferred to take the opposition into confidence before making a law,’’ the chief minister said.