KP CM asks Centre to take provinces on board

Census issue

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Sunday asked the federal government to address the reservations of Sindh regarding inclusion of the representatives from every province in the process of the forthcoming census.

Talking to reporters in Manki Sharif village, he said that representatives of the provinces in the census set-up would be able to protect the interests of their provinces.He said he had directed the police to take action against persons residing illegally in the province. “The government would protect the interests of the province at every level, including the census,” he added.

He said his government was in talks with the federal government about its concerns about the use of the surplus gas produced by the province and payment of its share of arrears from the net hydel profit. “The federation has to give Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its due rights,” he stressed.

Pervez Khattak said that his province could no more accept shallow promises. He said the province was rich in natural resources and companies from China and US had expressed interest in investing in some sectors.

Commenting on the controversy generated by the recent resignation of the director general of the Ehtesab Commission, he said the media was highlighting the issue without knowing about the facts. He said the government had not curtailed anyone’s powers, but had strengthened the accountability mechanism.

The chief minister said a committee headed by Imran Khan had been constituted to review the amendments in the Ehtesab Commission Act. He rejected the allegations of former Ehtesab Commission director general Lt Gen (R) Hamid Khan against him and his ministers. “He should present proof to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against me and my ministers instead of making false allegations and indulging in propaganda,” Pervez Khattak argued.

Replying to a question about the role of NAB in curbing corruption, the chief minister said his party’s stance on the issue is based on what is best for the people. “The PTI would support the federal government when it was moving in the right direction and would resist if it tried to harm the public interest,” he maintained.