FAISALABAD, Aug 31: District Nazim Zahid Nazir has alleged that top bureaucrats are deliberately creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of the local government system to disrupt the devolution plan and usurp the powers of elected bodies.

Speaking to the district council members during a session here on Tuesday, Mr Nazir pointed out that a number of powers and functions delegated to the UC, tehsil, town and district Nazims under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001, were still exercised by the bureaucracy arbitrarily.

He said the Punjab government was directly responsible for not collecting several taxes from Faisalabad, especially toll, trade and professional tax due to which the district government was facing financial problems.

"What a pity that the district governments are sending decisions after approvals about the collection of taxes and fee to the Punjab government but the bureaucracy is issuing notifications and directives against the decisions without any cogent reason or justification," he said. The Nazim said bold decisions would have to be taken to make the system a success.

KILLED: A bus ran over and killed a boy while his father and brother sustained injuries on Jaranwala Road on Tuesday. Labourer Allah Ditta was on his way home with his sons, Hamza and Ali Ahmed, by a bicycle when the speeding vehicle hit them. They suffered injuries and were taken to hospital where Ali breathed his last.