LAHORE, May 12: President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday told Nazims in Punjab that they were answerable not only to people but also to the chief minister who was responsible for whatever happened in the province.

Addressing a gathering of Nazims from various districts at the Governor’s House, the president said the provincial government would establish a system of checks and balances, and remove irritants to improve the performance of district governments and strengthen local governments.

Lately, the president said, he had changed his mind on the question of the tenure of district governments. “Now I feel that district governments should be elected for five years instead of four years, but it is a constitutional matter and needs to be decided by the proper forum,” he elaborated.

The president was quoted to have said by the sources “assemblies and district governments would continue to coexist. The (federal and provincial) legislators, too, have been elected by people, and their voters also have expectations from them. Hence both systems should work together to improve the lot of masses.”

He noted there was no acrimony between the province and districts, expressing satisfaction over the progress made by Punjab for implementing the local government system. “Flaws and problems of the system need to be sorted out through mutual consultation,” he suggested.

Gen Musharraf expressed the confidence that the local government system would bring about a silent revolution in the country and change the destiny of people by helping the government realize its cherished goals of prosperity and alleviating poverty.

He promised that there would be no shortage of funds for districts and added that some Rs64.5 billion had already been released to them.

Some of the Nazims, who spoke on the occasion, said they stood behind the president for strengthening the local government system.

They expressed their support for the president on the Legal Framework Order, saying certain elements wanted to draw mileage out of the situation.

Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi held out an assurance that the local government system would continue. “Gen Musharraf was, is, and would remain president for five years and beyond,” he said, implying the general’s policies would not be rolled back. He said 95 per cent of the Local Government Ordinance 2002 had been implemented in Punjab which was far ahead of other provinces in this regard.