PESHAWAR, Oct 9: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal-led government will introduce interest-free banking system in the NWFP shortly before the holy month of Ramazan.

The provincial government has assured the 21-member Nifaz-i-Shariat Council, an advisory body, that three reforms commissions — economic, education and law — would soon start functioning in the province.

The proposed commissions would introduce reforms to revamp these disciplines by seeking guidance from Shariat.

The council held a marathon meeting here on Wednesday which was also attended by Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani and his cabinet members.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Sami-ul-Haq group) boycotted the council meeting after developing differences with the MMA. The JUI-S’s representative Maulana Yousaf Shah did not attend the session. The party is demanding representation in the NWFP cabinet.

The nine-hour long meeting deliberated upon the performance of the MMA government and the pace of Islamization, including the introduction of the controversial draft Hisba Act in the provincial assembly.

Giving details of the council meeting at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, the MMA provincial secretary information Mufti Kafayetullah said the chief minister and his cabinet members briefed the council about the performance of their respective departments and their future plans.

“The council was fully satisfied with the performance of the chief minister and his colleagues. They are doing their best, although the speed of work is slow,” said Mr Kafayetullah.

The council, he said, issued a clean chit to the chief minister and ministers and did not find them involved in any corrupt practice.

He said the government was directed to comply with the council’s directives and ensure that Imam-led prayers were held in all the departments, including the chief minister secretariat and the provincial secretariat.

“The council has asked the government to issue reminder to heads of departments to make arrangements for the Imam-led prayers in their respective offices. The council would certainly suggest punishment for violators in its next meeting,” Mr Kafayetullah said.

About delay in the tabling of draft Hisba Act in the assembly, he said the governor had yet to accord his approval to the proposed act. He said the interest-free banking system would be introduced before the month of Ramazan.

He said the council urged the government to set up economic, education and law commissions.