PESHAWAR, April 5: The NWFP government has asked prize bond dealers to wind up illegal sale of prize bond numbers within 15 days, failing which administrative action would be taken against them.

Speaking at a Press conference here on Monday, Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Malik Zafar Azam said that the federal government had already placed a ban on the sale of prize bond numbers across the country.

However, he said, this illegal business was continuing unchecked in Peshawar and other parts of the NWFP and hundreds of thousands of people had lost their hard-earned money. The minister was of the view that the sale of prize bond numbers was a crime under Section 294(A) of the Pakistan Penal Code and sections 3,4,5 of the NWFP Prevention of Gambling Ordinance 1978.

"The law strongly prohibits the sale of prize bond numbers, so the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government will not allow gambling in the province," he declared. He said the government had received complaints from the general public seeking a ban on this unlawful business in the province. The minister said the poor were the worst-hit by this business.

"The gamblers have only 15 days to wind up their business or face action," Malik Zafar Azam warned. He said the issue would be discussed in the coming cabinet meeting and police would be directed to raid selling points after the deadline.

He said despite the ban the authorities concerned had failed to stop this practice and gambling was continuing in every street and public place in the provincial capital.