September 30, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 29, 2008

PESHAWAR, Sept 29: The NWFP government has decided to amend the relevant laws for revival of executive magistracy in a bid to put in place a mechanism for authority to administer law and exercise its powers.

NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti was given a briefing on a proposed model of magistracy a few days ago following which a committee had been formed to formulate detailed recommendations for the revival of executive magistracy, dismantled by former president Pervez Musharraf.The special committee, headed by Azam Khan, a retired bureaucrat and former chief secretary of NWFP, held its first meeting here on Monday, wherein proposed model of magistracy was reviewed.

The NWFP cabinet in its meeting held on July 28 had decided to revive the executive magistracy besides restoring the local bodies system of 1979 and strengthening of the newly created posts of Regional Coordination Officers (RCOs) for swift redressal of public grievances and improve service delivery.

The same committee had already forwarded a draft Local Government Act 2008 besides furnishing proposals for re-designating the RCOs as commissioners and revival of defunct revenue divisions, whereas it has to furnish report on the revival of magistracy as well.

“The committee will hold its second meeting probably on Oct 7 and final draft is expected to be finalised by Oct 14,” said Sahibzada Mohammad Anis, Peshawar district coordination officer and a member of the body, when approached by the Dawn.

A proposed model of magistracy, which was shared with the chief minister, suggests that the DCO will act as the district magistrate, who will be responsible for the supervision and control of the magistracy. The district magistrate will oversee regulations concerning supplies and rates, exercise powers for pre-emption and prevention, overseeing prosecution, detention for maintaining peace and preventive orders in cases of urgent nuisance, explains the proposed model, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The district magistrate in each district will have sub-district magistrates and special magistrates as per the proposed model.

The sub-district magistrates would be responsible for licenses and permits, standards and quality, issuing protective orders, dispersal of unlawful assemblage, control and removal of public nuisance, attachment of subjects of dispute and security for keeping peace.