August 21, 2007	Tuesday	Sha’aban 7, 1428

MARDAN, Aug 20: Union council nazims have protested against the decision of the federal government for bypassing district governments in utilising the Khushal Pakistan Development Funds and convened a session of the district council on Aug 23 to discuss the issue.

Sources said the central government used to release the funds to the district government each year but this time around the funds had been put at the disposal of federal Minister for Political Affairs and provincial Chief of PML(Q) Amir Muqam, which annoyed the nazims.

They said the centre had allocated Rs50 million for each district under the program but now it could be utilised only on the recommendations of the concerned federal minister.

They alleged that Mr Muqam had asked only like-minded nazims, councillors and aspirants of the next general elections to present schemes and developmental projects for their respective constituencies.

About 15 nazims and councillors with affiliations with different political parties met here on Monday and protested against the federal government decision. They accused the government of bribing the local government representatives before general elections.

They warned that if the federal government did not review its policy then they would launch a protest movement. They also decided to convene a meeting of the district council on August 23 to discuss the issue.