LAKKI MARWAT: Chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South) chapter Mohammad Ibrahim Khan has criticised the provincial government for not devolving powers and providing funds to local bodies even three years after the formation of local governments to the misery of people.

He was speaking at a meeting of Majlis-i-Shura at Darul Uloom-i-Islamia in Bannu on Wednesday, where JI provincial secretary general Zahor Khattak, deputy emirs Maulana Tasleem Iqbalm, Azizullah Khan Marwat and Salimullah Arshad, and other members were in attendance.

The JI leader said that denial of powers and funds to the local government representatives was tantamount to depriving people of basic facilities at grassroots level.

“Non-provision of funds has made the local government system paralysed,” he said, adding that the tehsil level local bodies have failed to come up to people’s expectations.

Criticises govt for not devolving powers

Mr Khan said that his party would restore the district tier of local governments after coming to power.

He also condemned the provincial government for using force against the elected representatives of local bodies in Peshawar a week ago.

“The elected representatives have been protesting the denial of uplift funds since the establishment of local governments, so the provincial government should pay heed to their demands,” he said.

He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership criticised the federal government for the use of force against its workers in Islamabad but the party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had adopted a policy to withhold development funds of tehsil, village and neighbourhood councils.

The JI leader rejected the proposed large-scale military operations in Kurram, Khyber and Bannu districts and asked the government to avoid such offensives keeping in view the sense of devastation and economic sufferings of people, especially those from tribal districts, during previous military operations.

“Such actions will stock hatred among the people against the government,” he claimed.

The JI leaderasked the government to assess outcomes of the previous operations and use alternate strategies to improve law and order and eliminate terrorism.

REMOVAL OF ENCROACHMENTS ORDERED: Bannu division commissioner Mohammad Ali Shah has directed the tehsil municipal administrations and Water and Sanitation Services Company to launch joint anti-encroachment operations, regularly chlorinate water tanks and clean public parks in Bannu city.

He issued the directives while chairing a high-level meeting at his office on Wednesday.

He said providing citizens with basic amenities, ensuring cleanliness and improved hygienic conditions, removal of encroachments and renovation of parks was part of the chief minister’s public service agenda.

He asked the relevant authorities to improve municipal and sanitation services in their respective areas and expedite the tax collection process.

WSSC chief executive officer Mohammad Imran Khan, tehsil municipal officers and other officials were in attendance.

The divisional commissioner also directed the authorities to eliminate encroachments from and around the Fazal Qadir Shaheed Park in Bannu city. He also asked WSSC and municipal officials to clear roadsides of encroachments and heaps of construction material for smooth flow of traffic.

“WSSC and tehsil municipal administrations should also launch a public awareness drive on clean and green initiative of the provincial government,” he added.

Mr Shah ordered making slaughterhouses functional and removal of the gigantic banners from public places, besides beautifying urban and rural areas with wall paintings. He said he would review the performance of WSSC and TMAs on a monthly basis.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025