By: Muhammad Ijaz Afridi
PESHAWAR: Local government representatives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have postponed their protest and sit-in until January 26 after negotiations with the provincial government.
The decision to postpone the protest was made after successful negotiations with the Secretary of Local Government. However, the local government representatives have made it clear that if their demands are not accepted by the due date, they will take to the streets again.
According to the Local Council Association, not a single rupee has been transferred from the funds received from the federal government under the NFC award to the local government bodies, due to which development work at the grassroots level is being badly affected.
The council demanded that the local government bodies ensure their constitutional and legal powers, financial resources and timely local government elections.
Local Council Association President and Mayor Mardan Himayatullah Mayar Khan said that the final negotiations with the government will be held on January 26, and if there is no positive progress on this occasion too, the local government representatives will protest again to reclaim their rights.
He said that depriving the local government system of powers is actually tantamount to depriving the province of development.
He further said that local government institutions are the first and most effective means of solving the basic problems of the people, but due to the lack of funds and powers, the local government system has paralysed.
According to the Himayatullah criteria, the government should take practical steps to strengthen local governments so that services can be provided at the public level.
The local government representatives expressed the hope that their legitimate demands would be accepted by January 26, the protest movement would be expanded throughout the province.
