PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa retired Justice Dost Mohammad Khan on Wednesday declared approval of the province’s next budget a major issue for his government.

“Our problem is that the previous government didn’t pass the budget (for fiscal year 2018-19). The caretaker setup will look into the constitutional and legal dimensions of the budget and may approach the court in this regard,” he told reporters after Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra administered the oath to him during a special ceremony at the Governor’s House here.

The last government didn’t present the budget as the ruling PTI had lost majority in the assembly after expelling 20 MPAs over alleged involvement in the Senate election horse-trading.

Retired Justice Dost Mohammad sworn in as head of interim govt

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by last chief minister Pervez Khattak, speaker of the previous provincial assembly Asad Qaiser, PML-N leader Ameer Muqam and senior government officials.

Hailing from Bannu district, retired Justice Dost Mohammad had served as the Peshawar High Court chief justice before being elevated as the Supreme Court judge. He retired last March.

The Election Commission of Pakistan named him as the caretaker CM after the treasury and opposition in the last provincial assembly failed to decide about the head of the interim setup.

The caretaker CM said his government would fulfil its constitutional and legal responsibilities delegated by the ECP and would create a peaceful environment for all parties to get equal opportunity to take part in elections and present manifestos.

“Our outmost priority is to hold free, fair and transparent elections,” he said, adding that the government in collaboration with all law enforcement agencies would create peaceful and conducive environment during elections.

Retired Justice Dost Mohammad said all parties should get a level-playing field in the elections to reach the people.

He said he would form a small cabinet and would follow merit to prevent the burdening of taxpayers.

The CM said the caretaker government would provide the maximum relief to the people.

He later met administrative secretaries and asked them to facilitate the peaceful, free, fair and transparent holding of the coming general elections in the province.

“We have a limited mandate commanded by the Constitution and we should be loyal to our responsibility till the transparent conduct of general elections. Everyone should be loyal to the country and extend full support to the Election Commission of Pakistan,” a statement issued here quoting the CM as saying.

Chief Secretary Azam Khan was also present in the meeting.

The CM asked bureaucrats to be loyal to the country and perform duty with sincerity and devotion.

He said his government would ensure the minimum justifiable expenditure.

The CM said there would be no Eid Milan and Iftar parties and the money to be spent on such events could be used to ensure better schooling and efficient healthcare in the province.

He directed the chief secretary to sensitise the district administration for the operational responsibilities, including people’s welfare.

“The chief secretary should issue a circular asking the relevant quarters and the district administrations to be on red alert, monitoring the system, introduce the early warning system and arrange everything required for any natural calamity,” he said.

The CM asked the district administrations to control the prices of essential commodities in their respective districts.

“The government’s writ should be visible,” he said promising to work for the infrastructure and human development within a short span of time.

The CM said security would continue to be the priority for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

He said the caretaker government would provide all-out support to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the fulfillment of its mandated responsibilities.

The CM asked the government employees to perform duties under the law and in line with the rules and regulations.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018