KPEC being strengthened through amendments: CM

Accuses former DG of taking unilateral decisions

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday dispelled the impression that the provincial government has clipped the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC).

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act was amended to strengthen KPEC and make the accountability process transparent.

Provincial ministers Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli and Shahram Tarakai and Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Mushtaq Ghani were also present on the occasion.

“We have strengthened the commission through the amendments instead of giving more powers to a single individual,” he maintained.

Pervez Khattak said the government had delegated full powers to the Ehtesab Commission. “We would not have formed the commission had we been interested in having more powers,” he argued, adding that his government had set a precedent by offering its ministers, including the chief minister, for accountability. 

He said the amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission Act were made in consultation with legal experts, parliamentary party leaders, and the director general and commissioners of the KPEC.

The chief minister said that the amendments to the act had been made in good faith and those raising objections should first take a look at the changes.

Without naming the director general of KPEC Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Khan, the chief minister said the director general and the commissioners had developed serious differences as the former made unilateral decisions instead of taking others into confidence.