KHYBER: Local government representatives have blasted the provincial government for denying them development funds, and termed it against the very manifesto of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Reacting to the allocation of funds to only 51 tehsil out of the total 131 tehsils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they insisted that getting their share in development funds was their constitutional right, which the provincial government had violated.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Shahid Khan, chairman a neighbourhood council in Jamrud, said they had been denied funds for last three years.

He said that delegating powers to the lower tier of the government was the stated vision of PTI’s incarcerated chairman Imran Khan, but the provincial government was constantly denying the local government representatives their constitutional right.

LBs also complain of no say in schemes’ approval

Landi Kotal tehsil chairman Shah Khalid alleged the provincial government under the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) share had allocated funds only to the PTI-backed chairmen and city mayors, while ignoring the elected representatives of opposition parties.

He said while these funds were released under the title of tehsil development programmes, the authority to utilise them was given to district development advisory committee, and the deputy commissioners were empowered to approve and sanction development schemes.

“This is a clear violation of the local government laws as the tehsil chairmen and their colleagues are denied any say in recommending or approving development schemes.”

Mr Khalid said that the opposition members would approach the courts against the “unjust” move of the provincial government.

“The provincial government is not sincere in delegating powers to the grassroots level, and wants to fail the system,” he claimed.

He accused the chief minister of weakening the local government system as he had backtracked on his promise that the tehsil chairman would be empowered to recommend and approve development schemes.

Teachers protest

Teachers in Khyber held protest demonstrations on Friday to condemn the murder of a colleague in Bara, and the district administration’s apathy to pay any heed to the threats the deceased teacher was receiving.

Members of Malgari Ustazan and all teachers association demonstrated outside the Bara Press Club, holding black flags and placards inscribed with different slogans, calling for an early arrest of the killers of Roohul Amin.

Speaking on the occasion, Gulab Din of Malgari Ustazan and Naseer Shah of all teachers association warned of a province-wide protest if the authorities failed to arrest the killers.

They also demanded action against those who failed to take any preventive measures after the deceased teacher and his family conveyed their concerns to the district administration about repeated threats to his life.

The protesting teachers also announced three days of mourning and demanded payment of compensation to the family of the slain teacher.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2024