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PESHAWAR, Feb 02 (APP): Two important meetings of the Law Reforms Committee were held under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, Aftab Alam Advocate, during which key issues related to legislation in the province, judicial reforms and upcoming local government elections were reviewed in detail.
The meetings were attended by Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Faisal Utman Khel, Secretary Law Department, Secretary Local Government Department, Secretary Board of Revenue, former Provincial Ombudsman Jamaluddin Shah, and senior officials of the Law Department, Local Government Department and other relevant departments.
During the first meeting, a detailed review of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Court Fees (Amendment) Bill 2025 was conducted.
Participants discussed various legal aspects of the proposed amendments, the existing structure of court fees and the need for reforms to make it more effective. Recommendations were also presented regarding possible changes in fees related to virtual hearings.
However, the Law Minister emphasized that the Court Fees Act should be comprehensively reviewed in consultation with the Peshawar High Court to ensure that necessary amendments strengthen and improve the law. It was agreed to constitute a special committee for this purpose, which will include representatives of the High Court.
The second meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) in the province, including proposed legal amendments and other administrative and legal matters. Detailed deliberations were held on key agenda items, including challenges facing the electoral process and possible solutions.
The committee reviewed proposed amendments to the Local Government Act aimed at making local government elections more transparent, effective and aligned with public aspirations.
Aftab Alam stressed the need to align the structure of the local government system with ground realities and ensure effective devolution of powers to the grassroots level so that the public can directly benefit.
The meetings also discussed the legislative process, pendency of court cases, law and order situation in certain areas, difficulties in access due to snowfall, and obstacles these factors may pose to the conduct of local government elections.