November 11, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 12, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 10: The NWFP Minister for Information and Transport, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, on Monday categorically announced that the provincial government would withdraw all perks and the agriculture land from leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) which, he charged, was bestowed upon them as political gratification for endorsing 17th Amendment during Musharraf’s regime.

The minister, in a statement while rebutting JUI-F’s ‘propaganda campaign’ against the Awami National Party, said that allotment of the land was ‘totally illegal and unconstitutional acts’ taken during Pervez Musharraf’s government, saying that all perks including the land would be taken back.It was said that the big chunk of land, leaders of the religious party had been given, was state land, which would be taken back from them at any cost and elements involved in plundering of national wealth would be brought before the nation.

“According to initial investigations, in 2006, some 6,000 kanal of land was given to the near and dear ones of JUI-F top leadership at a throwaway price of Rs200 per kanal, this land has now been taken back by the provincial government, whereas another 1,200 kanal army land given to JUI-F leaders is being investigated,” the minister said.

Referring to the issue of billboards inscribed with slogans of ‘Greater Pakhtunistan’ attributed to ANP, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the ANP-led government, had ordered the removal of billboards, and was also looking into the matter to unveil the faces involved in the conspiracy. He said that the people were expecting that JUI-F leaders would face the probe into the land scam.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain said Awami National Party (ANP), apart from being in power in the province, was also a major partner in the federal government, which believed in the unity of Pakhtuns and the sovereignty of Pakistan

The minister also refuted the allegations that anthem of ‘Greater Pakhtunistan’ were being sung in the Bacha Khan Foundation run schools, saying that in all schools of the network, only Pakistani national anthem was being played.