ISLAMABAD, June 4: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on Wednesday said the government will take a stern action against the provincial government of the NWFP for violating the Local Government Ordinance-2001.

Talking to Dawn the chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), Daniyal Aziz, said the prime minister ordered him to take severe stance during a meeting with the NWFP government to be held on Thursday in Peshawar.

He said the governor of the province, Iftikhar Shah, had also received similar directives by the prime minister. Both the NWFP governor and the NRB chief will represent the federal government during the meeting.

All 24 district Nazims who have filed their appeal with the President Gen Pervez Musharraf regarding interference of the provincial government in their affairs, would also attend the meeting.

The annoyed district Nazims of the NWFP, he said, had not tendered their resignations rather they have filed their appeal with the president.

The NRB chief said there were clear cut orders of the prime minister that the rule of law would be restored in the NWFP and a harsh action would be taken against those who had violated the law.

Mr Aziz said the NWFP’s provincial government had taken the charge of postings and transfers of the government officials and distribution of local government funds in its hands. However, under the Local Government Ordinance-2001, the district governments were empowered to deal with both the issues.

Similarly, the provincial government had taken back some departments which were handed over to the district governments, the NRB chairman said.

He said the annoyed district Nazims had also complained that the provincial government did not invite representatives of the district governments in important meetings and remained reluctant to share information.

Asked if the provincial government does not change its attitude then what steps the federal government would take, the NRB chief said in this situation, the NWFP government would have to face the music.