PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday expressed concern over the suspension of talks between the federal government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and said peace process should progress as the continuous useless war had severely affected the province.

“Our (PTI) government appeals to the federal government for immediate restoration of talks to restore peace in the country,” he said during a function of the newly-elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association, Nowshera, says a handout issued here.

The function was attended by provincial excise and taxation minister Mian Jamsheduddin, MPA Idrees Khattak, deputy commissioner Zakaullah Khattak, DPO Rabnawaz Khan, provincial president of Insaf Lawyers’ Forum Qazi Mohammad Anwar, District Bar Association president Ejaz Mohammad and general secretary Haji Mohammad Riaz and a large number of lawyers.

The chief minister said the continuous useless war was severely affecting the province.

He said the PTI protest was not meant for overthrowing the federal government but it was for bringing reforms in the Election Commission of Pakistan, whose job was to end the chances of rigging in polls.

Mr Khattak said the Ehtesab Commission Act had already been passed from the provincial assembly and process for the establishment of commission and appointment of officials was in progress.

He said an independent and autonomous Ehtesab Commission would be functional in 20 to 25 days.

The chief minister said the PTI-led coalition government besides quality education would also promote technical education to make youth capable for finding the employment of their choice.

He said a technical university was being established in Azakhel area of Nowshera, which would be the first-ever technical university in the country. Mr Khattak said the establishment of Air University would open the new doors of technical and higher education in the area.

He said the PTI government from its first day in office wanted the resolution of problems through negotiations.

“We are facing economic problems while the issues of price hike and unemployment are also soaring and perturbing our people,” he said, adding that the Ehtesab Commission would conduct indiscriminate accountability of all and sundry even chief minister would be answerable to it.

The chief minister said the provincial government had received several complaints along with evidence against corrupt people but didn’t hand them over to National Accountability Bureau feeling how an accountability bureau, whose DG was posted in consultation between the prime minister and leader of opposition, would ensure free accountability.

He said soon after assuming the office, he introduced basic reforms and worked day and night for the restoration of institutions and elimination of corruption.

“Today, a clear change can be witnessed,” he said.

Mr Khattak said the government had given legal cover to its reforms in different sectors, while a record legislation had been made in the province and more was in the offing.

He said the government wanted to hold the local body elections in the province on April 30 but the Supreme Court decision that delimitation of the constituencies would be made by the Election Commission, delayed the polls.

“We’re making efforts for holding local body polls before November. We want to hold elections under biometric system to make the exercise free, fair and transparent,” he said.

The chief minister said his government had transferred all powers to grassroots level and that Rs30-Rs35 billion would be spent through village councils for development in their respective areas.

He said he considered himself the servant of the people and never believed in protocol and personal security and that’s why he considered himself part of the people.

Mr Khattak said the PTI-led coalition government was making all-out efforts for living up to the people’s expectations and that its efforts would improve efficiency of institutions and restore the people’s confidence in them.

He said under Tameer-i-School Programme, the government was collecting donations for the construction of 13,000 rooms, 9000 boundary walls and 8000 bathrooms in schools.

“We’ve received Rs30 million donation within three hours of the programme’s start,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2014