K-P local bodies plan province-wide protest

Local government representatives in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have announced their decision to launch a protest campaign after failing to secure a meeting with the chief minister regarding long-standing issues of authority, funding, and administrative powers. According to the Local Councils Association (LCA), multiple written requests for a meeting were sent, but no time was allotted by the provincial leadership.

The LCA formally wrote to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on October 29, seeking an urgent meeting to discuss unresolved matters hindering local governance. A similar letter was also submitted to Provincial Minister for Local Government, Meena Khan Afridi. The association stated that the purpose of these meetings was to initiate dialogue on long-pending concerns affecting municipal bodies across the province.

LCA spokesperson and chairman of Sarai Naurang Tehsil, Laki Marwat, Azizullah Khan Marwat, along with association coordinator Intizar Khalil, expressed disappointment over the government's silence. They said that despite high expectations from the chief minister and the local government minister, the refusal to allocate time for a meeting reflects a lack of interest in strengthening local governance.