PESHAWAR, Oct 15: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, has said that the district Nazims and other elected representatives have a dominant role in the maintenance of law and order in their respective districts. This is a part of devolution plan, which the present government wanted to put on ground and implement it in its true spirit, he said.

The governor said every individual must have to contribute towards the maintenance of law and order situation, which would guarantee our survival and development and which is more needed in the prevailing critical situation than before.

He was talking to district Nazims of Lower and Upper Dir, who called on him at the Governor’s House here on Monday.

The government, he said, was a strong believer of freedom of expression and thoughts. “However, can it become a silent spectator to the erosion of the peaceful social life,” he asked.

The governor said that the freedom enjoyed by the common man in this period had never been witnessed in the past.

He said the government had allowed peaceful public meetings and let everybody expressed and register his opinion but after demonstrations, in most of the cases, it had been observed that the anti-state elements who penetrated such gatherings resorted to violence and caused damages. “We cannot afford the repetition of such events,” he said.

Simultaneously, we would neither taboo freedom of expression nor would want to let a group impose its point of view on others, he added.

The governor directed for a closer coordination between the provincial and district governments. Establishing communication links would go a long way in understanding the issues on ground and once the issue is understood, a remedial measure could be initiated.

The governor said he would love to see district governments’ taking actions against the lawbreakers and elements disrupting the peaceful environment. He said the elected representative must have to deliver for establishing an environment of peace, brotherhood and toleration.

He said the matter regarding imposition of section 144 and others relating to the maintenance of public order, laid on the competency of district Nazims.

They should look to this and take steps, which were pre-requisite in this regard. The governor said that in most of the cases, the people from one area went to other area and disrupted their social lives, they are free to express what they wanted but not at the cost of other peace-loving people. The governor said that disrupting public order and causing damages to the lives and public property was a disservice.

Once a public gathering is conducted it might be in a peaceful manner but unfortunately the saboteurs and anti-state elements penetrate such public gatherings and carry out saboteurs’ activities. This is because of the fact that the organizers lose control and the saboteurs do their nefarious work.

The governor said that the government was committed to maintain law and order at all cost. There were no two opinions in this regard. And whosoever tries to put a spoke in the government’s efforts would be taken into task.

He said there were certain elements trying to create hatred and schism in various government agencies and public. They should mend their ways otherwise, the government would have no other option but to take drastic action against such elements.

The governor said the public were conscious and aware enough to understand what was good and bad.

Referring to the new role of SHYDO, the governor said that it would be a facilitating, regulating and planning body which had been decided by the provincial government. However, the new role of the body needed further fine tuning, the government had taken certain steps for the electricity generation because we had perennial water resources and this could contribute a lot to the stability of the economy of the province.