Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday claimed that the federal government was stealing 600 MW electricity of KP on daily basis and they would not remain silent spectator on this issue, said a press release.

While talking to a 30-member delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE), the KP chief minister said, “We will not allow anyone to usurp our rights. Our government will go to any extent for the achievement of our rights.”

The chief minister also warned to draw his future line of action against PESCO if the federal government did not solve the problem within next 10 days. The federal government was kidding with his province since long but they would not tolerate such dramas any more, he said.

“We know how to fight for our rights and we also know how to achieve our rights,” Pervez Khattak said.

The federal government was usurping rights of the smaller provinces and the rulers should understand that such policies would harm federation, he said. He vowed to stop the federal government and irresponsible rulers from unconstitutional actions.

While enumerating his government’s achievements and reforms, the CM said that they had established good governance, end the outdated rotten system and made the rulers and bureaucrats accountable by adopting conflict of interest bills, Rights to Information Bill and whistle blowers.

He claimed that neither politicians nor the government officers could misuse his or her authority. “There will be rule of law and no one could misuse the resources and authority of the province,” he added.

Khattak said that they would not tolerate corrupt element and that was why these laws had been enforced in the larger interests of the people with collective wisdom.

The people would get relief and justice after the establishment of good governance, which would take decision on merit and clean institutions from politics, he said.

He observed that elites and bureaucrats were the hurdles in their way of change but now they have put the institutions on right track. The KP CM said that he had become disappointed from this system. “I was a minister in the previous government. I was impressed with Imran Khan’s slogan and supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and become active,” he recalled.

He said that his province has initiated Swat Expressway project worth of Rs 40 billion from its own resources.

It was not only connecting the central districts with those of the Northern districts but would also promote tourism in the province and generate job opportunities, he said. He further said that they made legislations for police reforms to make police force professional and end political interference. This has improved the system and reduced crime rates, he said.