KHYBER: The newly-elected councillors in Khyber tribal district have demanded of the provincial government to immediately release development funds to them.

They threatened to hold a protest sit-in outside Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar if their demands were not accepted forthwith.

They said that they were still without funds and powers since holding of local bodies’ elections in the province about five months ago.

Addressing a news conference at Jamrud Press Club on Sunday, Shahid Khan, chairman of the independent panel of councilors, along with his colleagues said that resolving of their urgent problems, including prompt release of funds and opening of bank account and separate offices, was a prerequisite for speedy development of the militancy-affected tribal districts through the local government system.

“Holding of local bodies’ elections by the PTI government in tribal districts for the first time is a commendable act but the perpetual silence of the provincial government over the release of development funds and authority is condemnable,” he said.

Shahid Khan said that a majority of the tribesmen had participated in the local bodies’ elections with the hope that powers would be delegated to their representatives and their issues would be tackled at the lower level for speedy resolution.

He said that delay in release of development funds and stubborn attitude of the provincial government had seriously disappointed the tribal people, who had also lost confidence in the new system as it remained dormant during the last five months.

Her said that authorities should arrange training sessions for the councillors about local government rules and their powers.

Shahid Khan and his colleagues regretted that parliamentarians from tribal districts too were silent over the continuous denial of funds and authority to the newly-elected councillors.

They also accused the bureaucracy of creating unnecessary hurdles for the newly-elected local government representatives in getting powers and perks.

They threatened to hold a protest sit-in outside Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar if their demands were not accepted forthwith.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2022