Local bodies reps go fundless

Two-and-a-half years since polls, but billions withheld

PESHAWAR:

Elected local representatives have not received funds for the past two and a half years, causing significant hardships for the public. The lack of funding has created severe challenges for people whern it comes to obtaining crucial documentation such as marriage and death certificates.

It was stated that there was increased difficulty when addressing local issues, and completing development projects.

UC Tarkha Chairman Taimur Kamal told The Express Tribune that the government weakened the 2019 Local Government Act by amending the 2013 law. He added that the government only held elections due to the Supreme Court orders. "For the past two-and-a-half years, no funds have been provided to local bodies, which is a grave injustice."

All Ex-FATA NC-VC Chairman Azizullah Afridi mince no words when expressing his disappointment. "We were thrilled when local government elections were held after the merger of tribal districts, but for the past two-and-a-half years, no funds have been allocated to these areas."

He bemoaned that the that while the government had announced a budget of Rs110 billion for tribal districts, not even Rs10 billion rupees have been released. He pointed out that the NFC and other funds have yet to benefit the tribal districts. "People travel long distances to resolve minor issues like obtaining birth, death certificates, and domiciles.

He added that If citizens have to go this far for basic services, what is the point of having local representatives?"

Dag Ismail Khel Chairman Dr Zulfiqar mentioned that people ask him to pave streets and solve other issues, but the government has not provided any funds for development work. He highlighted that the absence of village council offices has further complicated matters for the public.

He warned that if the government does not release funds or extend the term by three years, they will have no choice but to protest.

When the second phase of the local government polls were held in 2022, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the poills, dealing a heavy blow to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), which registered huge gains in the first phase of voting three months earlier.

In the second phase, voting was held in 65 tehsils in 18 districts of the provinces on Thursday. The PTI, which had gained early lead in the vote count, was able to translate it into a polls victory as more and more complete results poured in on Friday.

In the second phase, polling also took place in 1,830 union councils. Till late Friday, the results from 48 tehsil councils were compiled, out of which PTI candidates had been declared winner in 19. However, the party claims victory in 32. In second place, JUI-F was trailing with victory in eight tehsil councils.

They are followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 5 wins; Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), 3; Awami National Party (ANP), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and independents 2 each, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Rah-e-Haq Party (RHP) and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) one each.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PTI won in Barikot, Swat district; Bezai, Batkhela and Dargai, Malakand; Khal, Balambat and Adizai, Lower Dir; Larjam in Upper Dir; Puran and Bisham, Shangla; Mastuj, Chitral; Oghi, Mansehra and Tanawal and Abbottabad, Abbottabad.

The JUI-F won in Alai, Batgram, Timergarha, Lower Dir; Torghar; Upper Orakzai; Cheskar, Shangla; Bankat, Lower Kohistan; Kandian, Upper Kohistan and North Waziristan. Councils in Lora, Abbottabad; Besham and Cheskar, Shangla; Kalkot, Upper Dir and Mansehra went to the PML-N.