March 30, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1428

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PESHAWAR, March 29: NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan has praised the media and the judiciary for disseminating the truth and ensuring that there is rule of law in the country.

He was speaking at a ceremony organised by the provincial assembly’s Press Gallery Committee at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday in honour of Mohammad Nazir Khan, secretary of the assembly, who has retired.

He called for setting up an independent election commission to hold free, fair and transparent elections.

The speaker said a “one-man’s rule” in the country had destroyed the political system and paved the way for the worst kind of authoritarian rule, which was not a good omen for the country. He said a free press and an independent judiciary could rid the country of the authoritarian rule.

He lauded the role of opposition parties in the NWFP Assembly.

He also praised journalists for pointing out the government’s shortcomings. Responding to a demand about setting up a library in the press club, the speaker gave an assurance that he would discuss the issue with NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

Mushtaq Khan, the assembly’s new secretary, Mohammad Riaz Khan, president of the press club, Nazir Khan, and Shahid Hameed also spoke on the occasion.