PESHAWAR, March 5: Provincial Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour has held former president Pervez Musharraf's regime responsible for the spread of militancy in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Bilour was speaking at the 'Guest Hour' programme of Peshawar Press Club on Saturday. He said that the Musharraf government had given powers to the Nazims, who served their own interests and did nothing for improvement of the law and order situation that led to rise of militancy.

Supporting magistracy system, the minister said that with changes in the local government the previous government had disturbed the entire system where neither the nazims nor the officials had any control.

“Had there been a strong system there would have no terrorists base in the province,” he observed and added that the ANP-led government was determined to uproot terrorism.

The minister claimed that the government had successfully handled troubled situations, and law and order situation was fast improving.

About the amendments to the local government ordinance, he said that Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti had constituted a committee to suggest necessary amendments to the ordinance after which a bill would be moved in the assembly.

Mr Bilour said that with the restoration of Annual Development Programme (ADP) work on several major projects had been started and a project for supply of drinking water to Peshawar from Warsak Dam was also under consideration.

He said that work on the flyovers at Gulbahar, Ring Road and Nishtar Hall would be initiated next month. He said that the ADP was frozen in a state of compulsion due to militancy and flash floods, but now the major schemes would be completed.

Mr Bilour said that several projects had been planned for Peshawar and these included a one kilometer overhead bridge that would facilitate the people walking between Gulbahar and Nishtarabad. He said that Rs3.3 billion had been reserved for the renovation and extension of the remaining part of Ring Road.

He said that work on the Ring Road had been started and it would be completed in the next 18 months. He maintained that with the help of the USAID, developmental work of Shahi Bagh would be started this month.