SWABI: The members of district council here on Thursday rejected the government’s decision to change the existing setup of local government and demanded restoration of Musharraf-era system in letter and spirit.

They opposed abolition of district council under the new local government system. They said that the present system delivered but the system introduced by Musharraf was better than that. They said that according to law all the powers should also be delegated to the elected representatives.

Addressing a session of the council, they said that number of the members of village council should be reduced. They said that district council should be kept intact and government should give importance to welfare of people.

The councillors said that the present local government system was working perfectly according to the needs of people and there was no need to change it.

“The district council represents the entire district. Minorities have also representation in every district council in the province,” said Hassan Khan, the acting district nazim. He said that government had confused people because nobody knew as to how the work could be carried out in a befitting manner in the absence of district council. Barkat Masi, a newly elected member of the council, took oath on the occasion.

JOURNALISTS: The local journalists have said that it is responsibility of the state to provide security to the media persons and let them perform their professional duty to earn their livelihood with dignity.

They showed resentment over the rising incidents of violence against the journalists in the country. They were addressing a protest rally, organised by Swabi Electronic Media Association here on Thursday against the murder of Sohail Khan, a Haripur-based journalist, who was shot dead four days ago.

The speakers said that Sohail Khan was killed as he was performing his professional duty honestly. They said that government should provide financial assistance to the family of the slain journalist and award punishment to his killers.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2018