PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Monday said the provincial accountability commission won’t target the government’s political rivals.

“The (accountability) commission is not for the victimisation of the political rivals of the ruling parties. Instead, it is meant for reformation, ensuring good governance and creation of a corruption-free society,” he told participants of a function organised at a local hotel as part of the Peshawar Press Club golden jubilee celebrations.

The chief minister said the accountability commission had been formed to make corrupt officials accountable and that it had powers to hold even the sitting chief minister accountable and initiate inquiry against him.

He said the government had launched scores of reforms and projects for the people’s welfare and that the media should inform it about flaws and corruption in development projects for action.

Says legislated for good governance, rule of merit and end to corruption

Khattak said the existing system of governance needed drastic changes to ensure sustained development in the province and therefore, the provincial government had legislated for good governance, rule of merit and corruption.

He said a law had been enforced in the province to entitle people to get access to the sought-after information.

“Under the law on right to information, the relevant officials are bound to provide the people with the required information within 15 days of receiving the request,” he said.

The chief minister said under the Right to Service Act, domiciles and driving licences would be issued to applicants in a fortnight, while all other services would be provided to the people within a stipulated time otherwise the relevant officials would be dealt with strictly.

He said his government had introduced a law to restrict lawmakers, ministers, officials and even the chief minister from taking monetary benefits from official positions and that those violating the law would face severe punishment.

Khattak said his government was aware of the problems of journalist community and would take strict action against newspaper and media house owners refusing to implement labour laws.

“Implementation of the media welfare projects has begun. A Media Enclave with all modern facilities for journalists will be built on 1,000 kanals of land in the proposed Peshawar Model Town,” he said. The chief minister praised the Peshawar Press Club for playing a constructive and significant role for the promotion of democracy, education, peace, information and politics in the province and said the press club would always be remembered for it.

Earlier, information minister Mushtaq Ghani praised journalists for doing their duty daringly in the province.

He said the government had increased the journalist endowment fund to the record Rs64 million and that under the fund, slain journalists would be paid Rs1 million each, the injured Rs0.2 million each and the needy and deserved ones Rs20,000 each. The minister said Rs5million annual grant was being given to the Peshawar Press Club.

Later, the chief minister cut a cake and distributed shields to senior journalists and eminent citizens.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2014