PPP, ANP agree on administrators' appointments

PESHAWAR The ruling ANP-PPP alliance in the NWFP on Saturday overcame differences surfaced on the appointments of administrators, besides formally agreeing to constitute a committee for better utilisation of Local Government funds. To remove differences on administrators issue between the ANP and PPP, a committee of three members each from both the coalition parties was constituted, which met at committee room in the NWFP Assembly.
NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Arshad Abdullah represented the ANP while PPP Parliamentary Leader in the NWFP Assembly Abdul Akbar Khan, Provincial Minister for Irrigation Pervaiz Khattak participated in the meeting on part of the PPP.
Talking to media men, Mian Iftikhar claimed that all the differences had been overcome and the committee had been empowered to oversee, make changes in budget and deal with other important affairs of the local government as well.
The six-member committee, he informed, would have two more members - Secretary Local government and Secretary Law - as it would review the Local Government Amendments Bill (2010) and present its recommendations to the government soon.
In a query, Mian Iftikhar replied that both ANP and PPP were on the same page to hold local bodies elections within next six months, adding We have already announced that local bodies polls will be held in the coming six months, and it will be ensured at all costs.
On this occasion, Abdul Akbar Khan said that they had reservations regarding appointments of administrators in the province. Moreover, the PPP, a major party in the alliance, he said, had also apprehensions regarding utilisation of the local government budget. To resolve these issues amicably, a committee had been constituted, which would make necessary changes in local governments budgets.
In this connection, MPAs would submit report to the committee regarding their District and Union Councils budgets, he added.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour said that there was no need to give deadline by the PPP. We have cordial relations and are moving forward. We removed reservations of our coalition partner and there was no need to worry, he said.