Poll plight: PTI wants electoral reforms, not agitation, says chief minister

Urges federal govt to exempt businesses of the province from taxes.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was not preparing to march against the federal government, and was instead trying to introduce electoral reforms.

“Whenever polls are rigged, apprehensions are voiced. PTI has been talking about only four constituencies. Why don’t they make things public,” questioned the chief minister while speaking at a news conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. He criticised the federal government for its "unfair attitude" towards the K-P government.



Khattak said the provincial government had been requesting the centre to declare the province a ‘hard area’ and exempt its people from taxes since industries had shut down and all kinds of businesses were badly affected by deteriorating law and order.

“The federal government should express its sympathy since we are in a war-like situation. We demand exemption from taxes,” urged the chief minister. He said the federal government should also pay all pending dues to the province, including net hydel profits which should be enhanced from the present Rs6 billion.

He said last year’s profit had yet to be paid and that the approved markup of Rs57 billion should be released too.

The chief minister alleged the federal government did not want the PTI-led government to develop the province and that was why the centre was not investing in K-P. Expressing concern over prolonged power outages, he said the Water and Power Development Authority should immediately share the schedule of power outages with the provincial government.

“This is too much. We will march towards Wapda House in protest on Wednesday. People of the province should join us,” announced the chief minister. “Today, I again ask them (Wapda authorities) to hand over power generation and distribution in K-P to us. We will supply electricity around the clock at cheaper rates.”

Khattak said 750 of the 2,500 schools destroyed in the 2005 earthquake will be rebuilt from provincial funds, adding a total of 42 schools have been built in the Tameer-e-School programme.

The chief minister said the Ehtisab cell will soon become operational as its commissioner has been appointed. The anti-corruption department will deal with minor cases while the Ehtisab commission will deal with the major ones.

Khattak said they have adopted a mineral policy, imposed a ban on cutting trees and outsourced cleanliness, sanitation and potable water from companies which will start work from September 15. He also said aid organisations should be granted permission to operate as the number of displaced persons has increased sharply following Zarb-e-Azb and need support.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2014.