PESHAWAR: The local government representatives staged rallies and demonstrations in different districts of the province on Monday to observe black day against denial of powers and funds to them.

In Khyber, they took out protest rallies in Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal on completion of one year of the local government elections to register their protest against denial of funds and powers.

Holding black flags, the protesters chanted slogans in support of their demand for ‘activating’ the local government system in all tribal districts.

Addressing the protesting councillors in Landi Kotal, tehsil chairman Shah Khalid said that people of tribal districts had attached great expectations to the local government system as it was supposed to provide services to people at their doorsteps and initiate development schemes on the basis of needs.

In Jamrud, the protesting councillors held a demonstration at Bab-i-Khyber and blocked the main road for some time.

Threaten to stage protest outside CM House if powers not delegated to them

In Haripur, the local government representatives belonging to all the village and neighbourhood councils of the district observed black day to protest lack of funds and powers.

Led by teshil chairman Samiullah Khan, they marched from the tehsil municipal administration office to the office of deputy commissioner. They filed their written demands with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Fawad to forward the same to provincial government.

In Lakki Marwat, the councillors staged a protest demonstration in the district headquarters complex Tajazai against the delay in devolution of powers to the grassroots level by the provincial government.

They gathered outside the office of deputy commissioner and raised slogans in favour of their demands.

In Mardan, the local government representatives observed a black day by holding a rally against the provincial government for not transferring powers and funds to them.

The protesters were led by Mardan city mayor Himayatullah Mayar.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the protesting councillors marched from GPO Chowk to Topanwala Chowk.

Holding placards and chanting slogans against the provincial government, the protesters were led by Dr Mushtaq, the chairman of Pota union council.

They threatened to stage protest outside Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar and Banigala in Islamabad if their demands were not met.

Meanwhile, the women councillors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also addressed a press conference in Peshawar and demanded amendments to Election Act, 2017, to ensure provision of development funds and transfer of powers to elected representatives of local governments without any delay.

Addressing the news conference, Farhat Begum, Nasira Ibad, Naseem Riaz and Sheela Kamran said that even after lapse of one year, the objectives of local government elections had not been achieved.

They said that local government elections were held in two phases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa exactly one year ago but even the initial steps had not been taken to achieve the objectives for which the polls were held.

“We want to remind the provincial government that it has been a year today but our system is still at a standstill. We demand of the provincial government and the provincial assembly to amend the Election Act, 2017. If the local governments complete their term like the general elections, then hold a re-election within the next 90 days to maintain this continuity,” they said.

The councillors said that the local governments should be empowered in the real sense and at least 50 per cent of the provincial development budget should be spent by them. They said that provincial finance commission should be made active so that the local governments in the districts were provided with uninterrupted funds.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2022