MANSEHRA: The chairmen-elect of village and neighbourhood councils in Balakot tehsil have criticised the provincial government for delaying their oath-taking ceremonies and complained that first, their powers were curtailed and currently, they’re stopped from assuming their respective offices.

During a meeting in Balakot, they unanimously passed a resolution demanding of the government to reverse amendments to the Local Government Act, 2019.

“After amending the Local Governments Act, 2019, lately to clip our powers, the PTI government is blocking our swearing in to foil this LG system,” chairman of the Balakot neighbourhood council Haider Khan told a consultative meeting on Friday.

He said the chairmen and members of tehsil, village and neighbourhood councils had taken oath of their respective offices across the province but those from Balakot were an exception.

Street protests also planned

Chairman-elect of the Garlat village council Mohammad Maroof Awan said the people visited the elected members of the local bodies for the resolution of their problems but returned disappointed due to a long delay in their oath-taking ceremonies.

He said if rights weren’t granted without delay, the council members would put up fight for rights at legal and other forums and would even take to the streets.

Chairman-elect of the Bonja village council Ashfaq Khan said the bureaucracy was hampering the smooth functioning of local bodies.

The participants decided that they would meet again on June 28 to finalise future course of action.

SHEEP, GOATS PERISH: Hundreds of sheep and goats died from cold in the snow-hit Khambanar area of Balakot tehsil, rescue workers said on Friday.

They also said the shepherds, who were stranded in the area due to heavy snowfall, left for Noori Top area of Azad Jummu and Kashmir.

“We saw sheep and goats dead in large numbers [in Khambanar area].

“They’re killed by the intense cold. However, shepherds went to the neighbouring Noori Top area in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” Amir Khadam of the Rescue 1122 told reporters on return to Naran.

He said upper parts of Kaghan valley and neighbouring AJK recorded unexpected heavy snowfall in the current month, which forced shepherds to leave the area.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2022