MANSEHRA, Aug 3: District Naib Nazim Shahzada Gustasap Khan and Nazim of Mansehra tehsil council Nawabzada Farooq Khan have said the district government and all the three tehsil councils of Mansehra were independent in taking all sorts of decisions and warned that any government official found involved in interfering in other official’s affairs would be taken to task.

They were speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Industrial Exhibition at the Mansehra Sports Stadium here on Friday night. The ceremony was attended by elected representatives and elite of the area.

Gustasap Khan took exception to the “misbehaviour” of the DCO Mansehra with the sports secretary Jameel Asghar and condemned the DCO for his alleged interference in the affairs of the district government and the Tehsil Municipal Administration Mansehra.

Farooq Khan said under the local bodies rules the district government and tehsil councils were authorised to allow and organize fairs and industrial exhibitions in their areas of jurisdiction.

He said the power of decision-making in the local government system lies with the elected representatives and the government officials interfering in the local government functioning would be taken to task. He said the TMA was justified in granting permission for the industrial exhibition in Mansehra.

Farooq Khan said industrial exhibitions not only helped in promoting the products of the national industry they also provided earning and recreation opportunities to the local people.

He said the country was facing financial difficulties and under the new system of governance, the local councils had to generate their own resources of income.

He said industrial exhibitions and fun fairs were also a source of income for the local councils.

The tehsil Nazim said permission for the industrial exhibition had been granted by the TMA after proper scrutiny and sureties of good conduct.