K-P to convey ‘reservations’ to ECP

Says party-based village council polls difficult

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to ‘inform’ the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about its reservations regarding holding neighbourhood and village council elections on party basis in the province as directed by the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

A four-member cabinet committee has already been formed for the purpose which will meet ECP and then submit a report to chief minister Mahmood Khan. A decision on moving the Supreme Court against the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict by the K-P government will be taken in light of consultations with ECP.

Addressing a press briefing after the cabinet meeting along with Minister Arshad Ayub, Information Minister Kamran Bangash said that the four-member committee is comprised of Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Shahram Tarakai, Shaukat Yousafzai and himself.

He said that the K-P government had recommended on October 21 the local bodies’ elections in two phases but in the end accepted the decision and schedule of ECP.

“Elections of neighbourhood and village councils on party affiliation basis will be very difficult but we don’t want any clash between the institutions,” he said, adding that an amendment in the act will be discussed with the ECP.

“In the cabinet meeting the postponing of polling till March next year was not discussed. We will consider moving the Supreme Court after consultations with ECP.

Kamran informed reporters that the cabinet in its 61th meeting approved the food security policy which was under preparation for one year.

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“A council will be formed for agriculture, industry, irrigation and environment headed by CM himself. It will hold its meeting on a monthly basis and the private sector representatives will also be part of it. The province will produce around 1.6 million tons of wheat per year and under the food security policy food items will be available to all,” he said, adding that in the next 10 years Rs236 billion will be invested for food security and it will earn Rs700 billion.

Kamran added that the food security policy is being linked with Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), adding that Rs300 million has been approved for subsidy on fertilizers.

He said that 519 employees of the Frontier Education Foundation (FEF) had been regularized and an endowment fund of Rs200 million has been approved for artists.

Bangash said that Arshad Ayub and Faisal Amin will be given portfolios soon.

Replying to a question, the minister said that before consultations with ECP, nothing could be said about the K-P government decision on local bodies’ polls.

Bangash said that the CM will address a public rally in Peshawar on November 7 because such rallies had been held in other districts too.

On the other hand, ECP has called chief secretary and secretary local government to Islamabad for a meeting to discuss the latest situation after the PHC decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2021.