PESHAWAR, Oct 29: A tug of war between district Nazim Azam Afridi and the opposition over non-allocation of funds to the latter has intensified as the Nazim has summoned the district council session on Thursday to seek a fresh vote of confidence.

The opposition has termed the Nazim’s move a blatant violation of the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, and asked the council’s convener not to allow Mr Afridi to hold session on the district secretariat premises.

They said Mr Afridi had called a meeting of the like-minded members at the district council to seek the vote of confidence, adding that the convener should not allow the Nazim to use the district government premises and resources for personal purpose.

Meanwhile, the estranged group, led by Arbab Tariq, complained that Convener Dr Iqbal Khalil had refused to receive requisition from the opposition and quoted the convener as saying that there was no provision in the rules of business, 2001, to requisite the session in this regard.

Arbab Tariq told Dawn that he had asked the convener not to become a party and uphold his impartiality in the prevailing situation.

“The opposition will go to the court for justice if the convener does not accept the requisition,” Mr Tariq said, adding that Dr Iqbal wanted to prolong this crisis. The opposition group claimed that the required number of signatures had been obtained and the convener was bound to summon the session.

According to the opposition, under Section 5 (2) of the Model Bylaws, 2001, requisition for summoning of session needed 25 per cent signatures of the entire house. After completion of the pre-requisites, it was obligatory for the convener to convene the session after seven days.

When contacted, convener Dr Iqbal Khalil said there was no such provision in the rules of business to file requisition for the session.

“The rules of business do not touch requisition,” he said and added that the matter would be taken up with the local government department. He said the district Nazim had been allowed to hold meeting outside the council hall.

Meanwhile, five members of the Women Councillors Alliance met here on Wednesday and decided to remain neutral in the ongoing tussle between the district Nazim and the opposition. Councillor Shamim Qaiser presided over the meeting.

It was decided that any women member could attend the council meeting in her own capacity.