QUETTA, April 16: Nazims and Naib Nazims of Balochistan’s town and Tehsil councils have demanded abolition of the provincial finance commission (PFC) and said it was not giving the just share from the divisible resources.

Speaking at a press conference, Chiltan Town Nazim Mohammad Ismail Lehri a meeting of the Nazims and Naib Nazims of the province was held here the other day in which it was observed that the bureaucracy was creating hurdles in the success of the local bodies system.

He said all the town and Tehsil councils of the province were facing serious financial crises due to wrong distribution of provincial resources.

Zarghoon Town Nazim Abdul Qahar Wadan and others were also present.

He said the development projects of the town and Tehsil councils were badly affected by the financial crisis.

He said it was alleged in the meeting that the district coordination officers and secretaries wanted to pit the district governments against the towns and Tehsils.

The participants were of the view that the formula adopted by the commission for the distribution of resources was unjust, he said.

The commission has allocated 40 per cent funds to the district governments, while the town and Tehsil councils have been awarded 25 and 35 per cent share, respectively.

The meeting observed that the Quetta city district government was interfering in the towns’ affairs and demanded that it be stopped immediately.

The meeting passed a resolution demanding that the funds the province received on account of general sales tax should be transferred to the towns and union councils.

It demanded that the government should ensure just share of town and Tehsil councils from the province’s resources after abolition of the provincial finance commission.

It demanded that property tax should be transferred to the towns and Tehsils.

The participants of the meeting demanded that the DCOs and district Nazims should not issue direct orders to the town municipal officers as they were working under the town Nazims.

They demanded magisterial powers for the TMOs for removing encroachment, provision of devolution funds and vehicles for the Nazims and Naib Nazims of far flung areas.

The arrest of those involved in murder attempt on Zarghoon town Nazim was also demanded.

The participants condemned the US-led forces’ invasion on Iraq and killing of innocent citizens.