SWABI, April 20: People displaced by a new residential township staged a protest demonstration against the Swabi Development Authority, seeking increased compensation and accusing officials of ignoring them in allotment of apartments.

Locals affected by the Shahmansoor Township marched from the GHQ hospital and arrived at the office of the Abaseen Union of Journalists via Swabi-Mardan, Swabi-Jehangira roads. They were holding placards and banners against the SDA.

After the former district nazim Jehan Zeb Khan clashed with SDA officials over the alleged irregularities, it was decided that the SDA would spend its funds independently.

The allotment of flats had been completed and the completion of development projects would pave the way for construction. The SDA has allocated Rs70 million for the development of the township and the project is expected to be completed soon. The protesters were led by president of Shahmansoor Township Action Committee Mohammad Ijaz Ali and general secretary Aurang Zeb.

Mr Ijaz said that the officials concerned did not allot quota for the people displaced by the scheme, adding that they were demanding extra payment for flats already acquired by people.

“Why are the SDA officials demanding full payment when owners of the flats have paid their dues?” he said.

The protesters also accused the SDA officials of making vital changes in flat and said it was illegal, adding they had decided to go to court over the issue.

HASBA BILL: Provincial president of the JUI-F Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan said on Thursday that a bill would be presented in the NWFP assembly after omission of controversial clauses by the Supreme Court, adding that it was a great achievement of the provincial government.