Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday claimed that the federal government is steeling 600 Megawatts electricity from KP on daily basis and they would not remain a silent spectator on this issue.
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 Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) if the federal government did not solve the problem within next ten days. He said the federal government has not been taking his province seriously for long but they could not and would not tolerate such dramas any more.
“We know how to fight for our rights and we also know how to achieve our rights,” Khattak said.
He said the federal government is usurping the rights of smaller provinces and the rulers should understand that such policies would harm federation. He vowed to stop the federal government and irresponsible rulers from committing unconstitutional actions.
Enumerating his government’s achievements and reforms, the KP chief minister said that they have established good governance, have ended the outdated system and have made the rulers and bureaucrats accountable by adopting Conflict of Interest Bill, Right to Information Bill and whistle blowers. He claimed neither politicians nor the government officers could misuse his or her authority.
“There will be rule of law and no one could misuse the province’s resources and authority,” he added.
Khattak said that they would not tolerate corrupt elements and that is why these laws have been enforced in larger interest of the people with collective wisdom. He said the people would get relief and justice after establishing good governance, which would take decisions on merit and clean institutions from politics. He observed that the elites and bureaucrats have obstructed their way of change but now they have put the institutions on right track as they have cleaned the institutions from dirt and have made them active and effective for the welfare of people.
The chief minister said that he is disappointed from this system.
He recalled, “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 became active.”
He said that all those countries which got good leaders, they progressed. He observed that they had resources and their leaders should not be like beggars.
The chief minister said his province has initiated Swat Expressway project worth Rs 40 billion from its own resources. The project, he said, will not only connect the central districts with the northern districts but will also promote tourism in the province and will generate job opportunities.
He said 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 added. He said his government is not interfering in police but it does not mean they have no check and balance system for police. He said they have not only made police professional but have also made them accountable for the welfare of people. They also established safety commission at provincial, divisional and district level to keep an eye on the performance of police, the chief minister added.
