November 16, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 17, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 15: The 200-day performance of Awami National Party-led coalition government disappointed people of NWFP, who were facing growing lawlessness, corruption and unemployment, said Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief Sirajul Haq.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the JI chief alleged that corruption, nepotism, shortage of food items and sharp increase in crime were the hallmarks of the coalition government in the province.

The JI has issued white paper about the provincial government’s 200 days performance.

Siraj said that ANP performance had dismayed people of the province and the government had failed to deliver. He said that the government still had sufficient time to review its policies and remove weaknesses to address main issues of the people.

He said that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had promised in his maiden speech in the assembly that his government would focus on law and order situation, poverty, social sector and improve governance in the province. Unfortunately, he said, Mr Hoti had bitterly failed to deliver and poor governance had resulted in erosion of the government institutions.

“Average 40 people are killed in the province daily and thousands of families have displaced. Peace agreements in Swat and Dir districts had collapsed and now bombs are rained on civilians,” he remarked.

He said that JI would not demand resignation of the provincial government rather the ruling parties should improve their performance. He said that government had failed to maintain its writ and both chief minister and governor had restricted to their offices.

He said that Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik was ruling the province while US army general had recently given dictation to Mr Hoti. He said that despite worsening law and order situation the federal government had yet to relocate 40 platoons of Frontier Constabulary.

Portraying bleak picture of the overall situation in the province, Siraj said that according to police report murder cases had increased by 13 per cent and kidnapping for ransom raised by 50 per cent during the last six months. Similarly, he said, street crime had witnessed 35 per cent increase and car lifting had witnessed 20 per cent raise in the province.

He said that wheat and flour smuggling to Afghanistan was on the rise and members of ruling party involved in it. He said that provincial government had failed to control prices of atta and 20 kilogram bag of flour was sold in the market at Rs1,000.

The JI provincial chief said that merit was being violated in postings and transfers and lucrative posts were sold, which had resulted in the deterioration of institutions. He said that chief minister had promised to improve condition of hospitals and health clinics but no step had been taken in this regard.

He said that issue of net hydel profit with Wapda had not been resolved and federal government had yet to provide substantial economic relief to the province. He said that local investors had shifted their assets abroad and to other parts of the country owing to lawlessness, which had resulted in unemployment.