Monday, April 20, 2009

Parallel govt won’t be tolerated: Hoti


PESHAWAR: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said the government will take strict action against those who spread terror and want to establish a parallel government in the province.

Talking to journalists after attending a vehicle distribution ceremony of Community Midwifery Schools of various districts at a local hotel on Monday, the chief minister said a ‘national grand jirga’ would soon be convened on the situation in the Malakand division.

He said the situation in Swat was returning to normalcy and the government was trying to implement the Nizam-i-Adl regulation at the earliest.

Mr Hoti said the government wanted to resolve the issues of Dir and Buner through dialogue, but would not allow its writ to be challenged by anyone. No one, he said, would be allowed to set up a parallel government. The government’s writ would be established at any cost, he vowed.

He maintained that peace had been established in 80 per cent area in the Swat valley. According to him, after signing the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation by the president, the federal government had proved its sincerity with the masses and now there was no reason for the opponents to sabotage peace.

The peace accord, the chief minister said, had been signed keeping in view the wishes of the people of the Malakand division. He gave an assurance that the government would implement the Adl regulation in the Swat valley.

He said the rehabilitation process in Swat and Malakand areas would be started soon after the financial position of the province improved.

About the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s opposition to the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation, Mr Hoti advised the party to respect the feelings and wishes of Pakhtuns and cooperate with the NWFP government in maintaining peace.

He announced that the provincial government would establish a national reconciliation jirga at the Malakand level, which would include all stakeholders, for ensuring peace in the region.

Earlier, speaking at the function, the minister said efforts should be made to improve the lives of mother and child. He said the government had increased the number of basic health units in all districts, but this was not enough to provide better health services. He said that in the current situation, development of education and health sectors had become essential.

He announced that such programmes would also be started in Kohistan and Battagram in order to provide better health services to the people of these areas.

He praised the services of lady health workers and also said the government would appoint trained midwives in all districts of the province.

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