PESHAWAR, May 20: Councillors and Nazims staged a walkout from the city district council session on Tuesday to protest against the provincial government for non-release of funds for union councils.

Angry councillors accused the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government of undermining the local government system. They said the provincial government had withheld more than Rs60 million of the city district government on account of power dues to be paid to Wapda, which, they believed, was unethical.

The commotion began when City District Nazim Azam Afridi informed the council that the district government could not arrange funds for union councils, unless the provincial government released funds in the head of octroi tax.

He said the NWFP government had promised to release Rs57 million to the district government within next few days. Each union council, he added, had already received Rs200,000 and would get Rs800,000 more before the end of financial year.

Councillors and union Nazims criticized the NWFP government for withholding the city district government’s funds. They said the delay in release of funds had affected development schemes. They complained that the city district Nazim and Convener Dr Iqbal Khalil had not taken them into confidence on the matter.

the city district Nazim tried to persuade the councillors not to boycott the session, but they refused. They threatened to continue their protest until the district government released funds to union councils.

Acting Convener Ibadatullah then adjourned the proceedings till Wednesday.

Women councillors did not join the walkout. The councillors, however, called off the protest after negotiations. A three-member committee was constituted to hold talks with the finance minister on the issue.

Earlier, the council passed two resolutions, seeking funds from federal and provincial governments for flood protection schemes and provision of basic necessities such as teaching staff and drinking water in primary schools of the districts.