PHC CJ to be asked to nominate Ehtesab Commission head: CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Thursday his government was bringing amendment to the existing Ehtesab Act to empower the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court and the committee under him for the search, scrutiny and subsequent nomination and appointment of the Ehtesab Commission director general.

He was talking to the office-bearers of the Peshawar Press Club at the Chief Minister’s House here. The chief minister said nomination by the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court and the four judges committee would be binding and a final. It would remove all the doubts, speculations of influences on the Ehtesab Commission and its proceeding, he explained.

Of the decision to empower the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court for the selection and subsequent appointment of Ehtesab Commission DG, Pervez Khattak said his government took the step after thorough deliberation.He said it was the best option to give all the powers to the chief justice and the committee he is heading to nominate and appoint Ehtesab Commission DG.

Pervez Khattak said his government gave a transparent system of governance, made laws and introduced reforms in consultation with the opposition. All these were consensus decisions of both the treasury and opposition in the provincial assembly, he added.

He said his government had concluded an agreement with the Malaysian investors for the establishment of the halal food industry which would not only market halal products in the country but would also export it to foreign countries.

The chief minister said the government laid down the structure for good governance. Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on the law and order in the backdrop of the grievances and complaints of the people of Karak and Hangu, the chief minister asked the federal government to honour its promise of raising the provincial share in the Gas Infrastructure Development Surcharge (GIDS). 

The development schemes of oil and gas in Karak and Kohat, provision of resources, maintaining law and order and other related matters were discussed in detail. The chief minister said it had become inevitable to protect the legal and constitutional rights of the province under Article 5 of the Constitution and added the federal government must honour its commitments well in time.

Pervez Khattak recalled that the KP government was providing 10 percent of oil and gas royalty to the oil and gas producing districts which is over and above the funds provided through the Annual Development Programme.

Stressing the need for providing natural gas to the local population in the southern districts, he said ensuring first preferential right of the local population in locally   produced resources leads to maintaining peace, harmony and equitable development.

The chief minister emphasised that federal government should ensure just rights for development of infrastructure and welfare of the people in oil and gas producing areas. He asked for increase in the provincial share in the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess.