June 15, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1428

HARIPUR, June 14: Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has alleged that the centre has withheld the disbursement of Tarbela Dam’s royalty to the NWFP, which was due to be paid by Jan 22, because it is scared of the performance of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government.

Talking to journalists here on Wednesday evening, the chief minister said there was no dispute on the matter as it had been decided unanimously by all the parties concerned. He said a representative of the Water and Power Development Authority had also signed the document.

He said President Pervez Musharraf and the government needed to understand that the prevailing crisis in the country could only be resolved through talks and use of force could harm the solidarity of the country.

He said free and transparent elections could also help bring an end to the crisis.

The chief minister stressed the need for an impartial election commission that could not be pressured by any party or force. He denied that the province was facing shortage of financial resources. He said the development package announced for the Haripur district was the same as he had announced for other districts.

Earlier, speaking at a public gathering, the chief minister announced upgrading Khanpur to the tehsil level, waiver of potable water bill for Tarbela Dam-affected people living in Khalabat township and Kangra Colony and a Rs30 million development package for the new tehsil headquarters, including setting up of two higher secondary schools, two high schools, four primary schools and two dispensaries.

He also announced renaming of Khanpur after the name of the late Raja Sikandar Zaman.

On the occasion, MPA Raja Faisal Zaman announced joining the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam.