Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Representatives Clash with Police Over Development Funds

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of elected representatives protesting against the provincial government's failure to release development funds since the establishment of local governments in 2021. The demonstrators, including mayors and council chairmen, called for more administrative powers and resources.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of elected representatives protesting against the provincial government for withholding development funds since the formation of local governments about three years ago, Dawn reported.

Following local body elections held in December 2021, tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils were established. However, the provincial government has failed to allocate any development funds or transfer administrative powers to the tehsil level, critics say. Approximately 500 chairmen and officials from various councils gathered at Peshawar's Jinnah Park, including Mayor of Peshawar Zubair Ali, Pishtakera Tehsil Council's Haroon Sifat, and Pabbi Tehsil Council's Ghayyur Khattak. They marched along Khyber Road to the Chief Minister's House, chanting slogans against the provincial government.

As the protesters neared the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly building, police erected a security gate to block access to the Chief Minister's House. Despite the barrier, demonstrators broke through and continued their march. Tehsil Council Pabbi member Taimur Kamal noted that the provincial government had promised to devolve certain departments to the tehsil level following the abolition of the district governments.

Government services in KPK frequently grapple with challenges stemming from outdated infrastructure and lack of adequate resources, further complicating effective public service delivery.

(With inputs from agencies.)