KHAR: The political administration has suspended payment of monthly allowance to pro-administration elders in Bajaur Agency.

Some tribal elders told Dawn on Monday that the administration had yet not paid them monthly allowance for September though they usually got it in the first week of every month.

They said they had visited the local administration’s offices in Khar to receive the payment, but to no avail.

The elders complained they’re distressed for not being properly informed about the suspension of allowance payment.

They said denial of allowance would add to their financial woes.

The elders claimed the allowance’s payment had been suspended for the fourth time since November 2015.

A relevant official told Dawn that the payment of monthly allowance to elders had been suspended on the directives of senior officials of the political administration.

He didn’t elaborate.

The official said the allowance hadn’t been paid to all ‘deserving’ people, who used to get it as financial assistance.

He said shortage of funds with the administration could be the reason for the problem.

The official said he hoped that the allowance’s payment to elders was likely to resume next month.

Published in Dawn October 25th, 2016