October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 17: Federal Minister for Political Affairs and ruling PML provincial president Amir Muqam has said that elections in Malakand and southern districts are likely to be postponed owing to the deteriorating law and order situation there.

Talking to journalists here after a meeting of religious scholars, he held the MMA responsible for the poor law and order situation in the NWFP.

He said that unrest in tribal areas had been caused by cross-border movement and added that the heat was also being felt in southern districts of Bannu and Tank.

The PML leader said he had requested ulema and mashaikh to play their role in restoration of peace in the NWFP and tribal areas. He recalled that ulema had played an important role in the creation of Pakistan and hoped that they would now contribute to efforts aimed at brining solidarity to the region.

He expressed the apprehension that that the deteriorating law and order situation might hinder holding of elections in southern districts.

APP adds: Earlier, addressing the ulema, Mr Muqam alleged that corruption, nepotism and irregularities were at its peak during the tenure of the MMA government in the NWFP and added that religion had been exploited for personal gains.

He said that people had rejected the call given by the MMA against nomination of the caretaker chief minister of the NWFP which reflected its poor standing among the electorate.

The provincial head of PML ulema wing, Allama Syed Sajjad Shah Badshah presided over the gathering.

Maulana Muhammad Shuaib, Qazi Ghulam Mujtaba and other ulema also spoke on the occasion. The criticised the Zakat system of the MMA government and called upon the government to reorganise it.