LOWER DIR: Local government representatives belonging to the opposition parties have planned to launch agitation from Nov 24 against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for curtailing their powers and funds.

Talking to mediapersons in Samarbagh here on Thursday, Samarbagh tehsil chairman Saeed Ahmad Bacha said the government had curtailed the powers of local government representatives in violation of the law.

He said they would start a protest movement against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which would continue until their powers and development funds were restored. He said they felt ashamed in public as they had no funds for initiating even small projects.

Mr Bacha said all the opposition parties’ chairmen and councillors from different districts were determined to launch the protest campaign from Nov 24 in front of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Peshawar. He said the protest would continue till Nov 30 in the first phase and asked the councillors from all over the province to join hands for restoration of their powers and funds.

LAW AND ORDER: Malakand Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan on Thursday visited Lower Dir district and directed officers and jawans to remain vigilant so that peace could be maintained in the area.

Speaking to district police officers and SHOs on this occasion, the RPO said the police should perform their duties in an efficient manner to maintain law and order and protect the life and property of the people.

He also offered fateha for the departed souls at Yadgar-i-Shuhada.

The RPO also visited various departments of Timergara Police Lines and the service centre and reviewed the facilities provided to the people there.

On this occasion, he said the district police should step up the ongoing crackdown on the drug dealers and elements involved in heinous crimes.

Meanwhile, Malakand commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai and RPO Sajjad Khan visited the site of the Sanam Dam in AsbanrAdenzai and reviewed the security arrangements before arrival of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to inaugurate the dam project.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2022