LG polls in KP delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Thursday delayed the local government elections in the province till improvement of the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and approved a compensation package of Rs7 million for the families of the frontline workers who die in the line of duty while fighting the Covid-19. The cabinet also decided to promulgate the Epidemic Control and Emergency Relief Ordinance and establish the Forensic Science Agency.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan presided over the cabinet meeting, an official handout said. Besides the ministers, chief secretary Dr Kazim Niaz and all the administrative secretaries attended the meeting. A compensation package of Rs7 million would be offered to the families of the frontline workers of all scales who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty while treating Covid-19 patients.

Briefing the media about the other decisions of the cabinet, Chief Minister's Advisor on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir said keeping in view the prevailing Covid-19 situation the public holidays had been extended till May 15. He said the cabinet approved the establishment of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Power Transmission and Grid System Company under which the province can set up its own grid and power transmission system for electricity distribution.

Ajmal Wazir said the ban on inter-district public transport, parks, restaurants, hotels, recreation points, and other such areas will continue till the next order. The meetings with jail inmates will also remain suspended.

He said the cabinet allowed the milk and yoghurt shops to remain open after 4 pm. He added that the meeting approved reopening of the cattle markets for smooth supply of meat and other products but standard operating procedures (SOPs) have to be finalized and necessary measures taken before implementing the decision.

The adviser said the cabinet also approved Epidemic Control and Emergency Relief Ordinance which will give legal protection to all measures taken to control Covid-19 or any other epidemic. These measures include keeping patients in isolation or quarantine and ban on public gatherings and interprovincial and inter-district movement of transport along with any other administrative measures.

He added that the cabinet decided that the head of the family, in-charge of restaurant and hotel, transport dealer and other heads of any business are bound to report the emergency of coronavirus in the family members, or the employees. "In case of violation, they would be proceeded against under the law and the punishment may be imprisonment or fine or both," he warned.

Ajmal Wazir said the measures taken by the government for public relief have been given legal protection.

He said there would be 20 percent discount in the private schools fee of more than Rs6,000 while 10 percent fee discount must be ensured for the schools charging less than Rs6,000 fee.

He added that the owners of houses and shops could not expel the tenants for three months if they fail to pay the rent and this period can be extended to six months if the emergency situation prevailed.

The adviser said the cabinet had approved the draft-Khyber Paktunkhawa Forensic Science Emergency Bill 2020 under which an independent provincial Forensic Science Agency will be established in the province.

"After the approval of the ordinance, for the courts' assistance, the forensic material, documents, equipment, evidence, etc, they can have an expert forensic advice to help investigate crimes of complicated nature," he explained.

The bill underlined the rules and regulations for the appointment of the director general besides financial and administrative affairs of the agency.

He said the cabinet approved the status of full Khassadar for all those tribal security personnel who are working part time or on half pay on the positions of the regular Khassadars. He added that they will be entitled to full benefits enjoyed by the full Khassadar force personnel.

Ajmal Wazir disclosed that the cabinet approved the establishment of special courts under the Narcotics Control Act 2019 for the trial of punishable crimes.

"The existing courts of district and sessions judges, additional district and sessions judges and first-class judicial magistrate courts would perform as special courts," he added. The adviser said the cabinet approved Local Council Delimitation Rules 2019 under which the Election Commission will soon start demarcation process.

Ajmal Wazir said the cabinet through an ordinance made amendments to the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Local Government Act 2013 to waive off the provision of minimum population for Neighbourhood Councils and Village Councils. He noted that in the prevailing situation the local government elections have been delayed and would be held once the situation concerning the coronavirus pandemic improved.

Ajmal Wazir said that as per directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the KP cabinet also waived off licensing and inspection fee for small businesses to enable them to cope with the situation resulting from the lockdown.