PESHAWAR: All former nazims of different neighbourhood and village councils have blamed the government for using delaying tactics to hold the local government elections and demanded of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the delay in the process.

Talking to mediapersons at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, representatives of the all nazims neighbourhood and village councils organising committee, Peshawar district, headed by Amanullah Khan, said that August 28, 2019 was the last official day of the local bodies, but the government did not take any step to continue their projects.

The former nazim claimed that the former councillors and nazims had played an active role in carrying out uplift schemes and cleanliness drives in respective areas, but the problems had multiplied after completion of their tenure.

The government, Mr Amanullah said, was not serious to hold the local government elections because members of the provincial assembly were against such polls.

He rejected the impression that the elections were delayed due to snowfall in hilly areas, saying that the residents had not vacated their homes during winter and were living as usual.

The ex-nazim said that honorarium of many of the ex-nazims had been pending. “We will hold rallies and conferences to press for acceptance of our demands,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020