PESHAWAR, Nov 7: The government, within its limits, will provide maximum relief to the jailed leader of the defunct Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi, Maulana Sufi Mohammad, according to NWFP’s caretaker Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk.According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, Mr Mulk gave this assurance to members of a delegation of the Shariah Mahaz of Dir Lower, headed by Gran Malik, who called on him at the Frontier House in Peshawar the other day. The meeting was also attended by provincial Minister Bakt Baidar Khan, tehsil Nazim Mohammad Umer and Jehan Anwar of Timergarah.

Members of the delegation urged the government to release Maulana Sufi Mohammad to bring down tension in Swat.

In response, the chief minister said that the government would make all possible efforts to provide relief to the Maulana.

The caretaker chief minister assured the delegation that a committee would submit its recommendations soon to highlight weaknesses in the Shariah Act and the Adl Regulation in the Malakand Division.

He said that the government would take Ulema and everyone into confidence to improve the laws and then it would be recommended to the proper forum for approval.

Members of the delegation thanked the chief minister and assured him of full cooperation in the establishment of peace in the area.

Other members of the delegation included Tor Lali Malik, Badshah Sardar Khan, Bahadar Khan, Abdul Haq Malik, Fazle Rehman Malik, Amanullah Khan, Motabar Khan, Sheikh Zahoorul Haq, Sardar Khan, Fasihul Lissan, Qazi Rasool Mohammad and Behroz Khan, the handout said.

APP adds: The Chief Minister said on Wednesday that supremacy of merit would be ensured in tackling problems and serving the people, adding that the public funds would be spent for the welfare of the people instead of being spent unnecessarily.

“It has been my conviction that adherence to merit ultimately leads to removal of weaknesses in the system, ills and wrong-doings in society,” he said while talking to district Nazim of Lower Dir Ahmed Hassan Khan, Tehsil Nazim Samar Bagh and Nazim of Town-I Peshawar Haji Shaukat Ali who called on him here on Wednesday.

The chief minister said that government servants should safeguard public interests and make sincere efforts to resolve people’s problems.

He said the change of government should not deter them from carrying out their official obligations. He said a professionally-sound government official prefered to work in unfavourable environment.

He said opinion leaders, public representatives and the civil society at large should indicate weaknesses in the system and the government should promptly take remedial measures.

He assured them that he would visit any area where he was required to personally witness the hardships of the people and problems of the public sector institutions in carrying out public welfare activity.