PESHAWAR: The incumbent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to abolish the KP Ehtesab Commission (KPEC).
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.
Set up in 2014 in light of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) slogan of anti-corruption, the commission has remained largely dysfunctional since its inception.
Former KPEC director general (DG) Lieutenant General (r) Hamid Khan stepped down in February of 2016 amidst controversy and was never replaced.
Moreover, the anti-graft watchdog was paralysed due to detrimental amendments to the law governing the body and a constant tug of war between its organs including directorate and commissions.
KP government spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai told reporters, “It’s a big organisation and the PTI had to create it as the NAB didn’t perform well.”
He also said that since the commission was failing to deliver, the government does not want to pour in more funds. He also said that cases pending with the commission would be decided by the KP Law Department.
The spokesperson added that the newly-elected government would strengthen the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).
Spokesperson Yousafzai also said that the cabinet had established task forces to implement its decisions including those pertaining to the first 100 days plan.
He also claimed that the government would include every person above the age of 65 and persons with disabilities in the Sehat Sahulat Programme.
The spokesperson also stressed that KP Local Government had performed better than the other provinces.
He also said the KP Local Government model would be replicated in other provinces where the PTI is in power.
Yousafzai also said that the government had completed significant work pertaining to the technical education sector and would seek out Aman Foundation’s help to improve the sector further.
He also explained that monitoring cells would be established to ensure the eradication of corruption from the Public Health Department, the Irrigation and Communication Department and the Works Department.
Yousafzai added that the Peshawar High Court (PHC) chief justice would be consulted pertaining to the government’s move to introduce judicial reforms.
The government will also attempt to eradicate the police law’s deficiencies, he added.
Yousafzai announced that the KP Government would request the Federal Government to provide funds for the Chashma Right Bank Canal, which will uplift KP’s agricultural sector.
Moreover, the provincial government will also discourage building housing societies if they adversely affect agricultural land.
The spokesperson also said that the government intends to complete several projects on war footings and these include the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit and Swat Motorway, planting trees in cities and harnessing KP’s hydel power potential.
On the other hand, a statement issued read that the cabinet had been briefed about the government’s first 100 days plan pertaining to improving service quality, ensuring the quick administration of justice, reforming the local government system, extending service delivery to tribal areas and empowering police.
Moreover, the statement also quoted KP CM Khan explaining that the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) merger with KP had created several issues including infrastructure development, extending service delievery and institutional reach to tribal areas, mainstreaming of merged areas and the provision of basic ameneties to citizens in those areas.
