In a bid to ensure law and order in the province and streamline the affairs of state institutions through the Magistracy System (Commissioner System), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Wednesday decided to approach the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
This decision was made in a provincial cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti. The cabinet discussed in detail the situation arising with federal government’s reluctance to go back to the Magistracy System, which was replaced with the devolution of power system introduced by former president General (r) Pervez Musharaf in 2001.
Briefing the media about the cabinet’s decision, KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar said that as the federal government had rejected the request by the KP government to restore the Magistracy System, the provincial Home Department was now planning to approach the CCI to consider its proposal.
He claimed that besides the KP government, the governments of Sindh and Balochistan were also interested in reverting back to the Magistracy System. He said the Sindh government had already returned to the old Executive System, but the move was later withdrawn on federal government’s orders, while Balochistan government’s decision was challenged in the court. He said the KP government was carefully monitoring the situation, particularly the court proceedings. He was hopeful of other provinces’ support on the issue in the CCI meeting.
In response to a question, Iftikhar said that with the abolishing of the Magistracy System, the state-functionaries were facing hardships in maintaining law and order. He said the executive wing, which is responsible for maintaining law and order, had lost its influence under the present system.
He said the cabinet members also condemned the NATO strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, and called the incursion “unwanted and barbaric”.