CM says good governance has unnerved rivals

Rules out compromise on anti-corruption drive

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Friday that good governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had unnerved his rivals and shrunk the political space for them.

“The reforms being pursued by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government to stamp out corruption, ensure merit, revive institutions for prosperity and development have silent our critics,” he said while speaking at public meetings at Shahabkhel in Ziarat Kaka Sahib and Hakeemabad.

Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, Nowshera District Nazim Liaqat Khan Khattak, Member National Assembly Dr Imran Khattak and others  were present on the occasion.

The chief minister said the PTI would never compromise on stance on corruption. “Those mentioned in the Panama Papers Leaks should be held accountable at all costs,” he said and added that the Ehtesab rally planned by his party in Raiwand on September 30 would prove to be a milestone.

Pervez Khattak was critical of heavy loadshedding in KP and said he had written to the federal government a number of times to seek due share for the province in the power supply, but in vain.

He threatened to close the offices of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the federation was denying the due right to electricity to KP, which was creating law and order situation in the province.

“We are fed up with the hollow commitments of the federal government. We are losing patience and can order closure of Wapda offices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa anytime,” he warned.He asked the federal government to stop subjecting the smaller federating units to discrimination. He vowed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would go to any extent to secure rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The chief minister said that the opposition parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were needlessly criticising his government. He said some corrupt politicians were leveling allegations against the provincial government.

“They have crossed all limits. They plundered resources and weakened the province when they were in power,” he alleged. Enumerating his government’s achievements, he said the PTI-led government upheld merit in recruitment in government departments, improved standard of education and healthcare services in public sector hospitals.