PESHAWAR, Aug 25: Rejecting reports about his differences with the provincial government, NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman on Wednesday hailed the “foolproof arrangements” made for the first phase of local government elections in the province.

During a meeting with Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani at the Governor House, the governor said that he had personal relationship with the chief minister and there was no question of any misunderstanding with the provincial government.

According to an official handout, the governor and the chief minister exchanged views on local body elections and the arrangements made by the provincial government for their peaceful conduct. They rejected report appearing in a section of press about “mistrust” and “schism” between the provincial and federal governments.

“If a situation creating confusion arises, I directly talk to the chief minister and the issue is resolved amicably,” Mr Rehman said. The governor observed that the provincial government was working well within its constitutional framework.

The provincial government could not be blamed for isolated incidents in the local body elections.

The constitutional and administrative heads also shared their views on the provincial rights, NFC Award and other outstanding issues of the province.

They agreed to evolve a joint strategy to find out a certain solution to these problems.

Talking to newsmen afterwards, the governor and the chief minister spoke of issues that they had broached.

The governor denied the allegations made by certain quarters that the provincial government had influenced the first phase of the local body elections, saying “that might be the stand of individuals”.

“We had gathered information that showed the peaceful and free conduct of elections and no one of the provincial government tried to influence it. The credit for the transparent conduct and foolproof arrangements goes to the provincial government,” he added.

The chief minister said there was a democratic dispensation in the province and the provincial government was fully alive to its democratic and constitutional mandate.

The provincial government “has not interfered” in the elections “that is very much clear” to all because of its transparent role before, during and after the first phase.

The chief minister said that the step taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the NFC Award would bring far-reaching results.

The governor and the chief minister agreed to make coordinated efforts for the provincial rights.