PESHAWAR: Reacting to the delay in release of the third and fourth instalments of the provincial finance commission, district council Peshawar members on Tuesday demonstrated outside the office of the district nazim and gave a one-week deadline for acceptance of the demands.

On the occasion, the district council members adopted some resolutions unanimously to launch a vigorous protest movement, saying the government was least interested in fulfilling its promises regarding empowering the local bodies and thus it was using delaying tactics in release of funds.

The protesters, who also included Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf members, announced a series of protests which included a sit-in outside the provincial assembly building on Tuesday (April 16). They said initially they had started holding demonstrations to press their demands but during the second phase of protest the district council members would tender collective resignations.

The participants urged the government to ensure release of the 30 per cent third and fourth quarterly installments till April 15, otherwise they would follow their protest plan.

The protesters said the ministers and other members of the provincial assembly, advisers and assistants of the chief minister had managed to get sufficient funds for development in their respective constituencies while the local bodies’ representatives were totally neglected.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after assurance of district nazim Mohammad Asim Khan that he would contact the relevant authorities for release of the funds.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2019