PESHAWAR, Sept 6: The NWFP Nifaz-i-Shariat Council has observed that the proposed Hisba Bill is not repugnant to the 1973 Constitution as the province has the right to establish an ombudsman’s office in the province.

The 21-member council which met here on Saturday urged the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government to speed up the enforcement of Shariat in the province. The council chairman, Mufti Ghulam-ur- Rehman, presided over the meeting.

Giving details of the deliberations at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, MMA provincial information secretary Mufti Kafayetullah said that the MMA was determined to establish the ombudsman’s office and set up the Hisba force, once the Assembly approved the draft bill.

The government, he said, would soon introduce the bill in the House which had been sent to the governor for approval.

He said under the 1973 Constitution the provincial government could set up the ombudsman’s office whereas under the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, the provincial government could set up ombudsman’s offices at provincial and district levels.

“We are optimistic that the governor will approve the bill,” Mr Kafayet said, adding that the council had addressed the governor’s objections.

He said the Bill would be helpful in curbing financial and moral corruption, terrorism and sectarianism.

He said the government had constituted a committee to review the draft bill and address all objections raised by different segments of society and the committee report was presented in the council’s meeting.

He dispelled impression that the MMA was trying to impose the Taliban-style government in the province.

The Hisba Bill, he claimed, should not be termed the start of Talibanization.

He said the government would introduce the bill in the Assembly after completing the homework.

He said the lawmakers from the opposition and treasury benches would be taken into confidence, adding that the Assembly would pass the bill unanimously.

If the assembly did not pass the bill unanimously then it would be put to voting, he maintained.

He said that the proposed Hisba Force would be raised from the police department and it would help the provincial ombudsman’s office.