Protest in Peshawar: Local Leaders Demand Development Funds
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of elected representatives who were protesting against the provincial government for not releasing development funds since the establishment of local government in the province about three years ago.
The local governments, including tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils, were established following the local body elections held in December 2021. However, since their installation, no funds have been allocated to them for development projects.
The demonstrators claimed that the provincial government failed to transfer administrative powers to the tehsil level following the abolition of the district tier in the local government system. Around 500 chairmen from tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils gathered from various parts of the province at Jinnah Park, Peshawar. Among them were the Mayor of Peshawar Zubair Ali, Pishtakera Tehsil Council’s Haroon Sifat, and Pabbi Tehsil Council’s Ghayyur Khattak.
The protesters chanted slogans criticizing the provincial government for being opposed to local governance. They organized a procession from the park and marched along the Khyber Road to the Chief Minister House, where they planned to stage a sit-in. As the demonstrators approached the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly building, the police closed the road with a security gate to prevent their movement towards the Chief Minister’s House. Despite this, the protesters broke through the gate and continued their march towards the Chief Minister’s House.
One of the protesters, a Member of the Tehsil Council Pabbi, Taimur Kamal, said that with the abolition of the district government, the provincial government had decided that some important departments would be devolved to the tehsil level. Government services in KPK often face challenges related to outdated infrastructure and inadequate facilities. Many offices and service centres lack the necessary resources to effectively serve the public.
Doubts Revealed
Peshawar -: Peshawar is a city in Pakistan, which is a country next to India. It is known for its rich history and culture.
Tear gas -: Tear gas is a chemical that makes people’s eyes water and hurt, used by police to control crowds.
Water cannons -: Water cannons are large hoses that spray water at high pressure to push people away during protests.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan, similar to how India has states like Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu.
Development funds -: Development funds are money given by the government to build things like roads, schools, and hospitals.
Local government -: Local government is a group of elected people who manage a city or town, like a city council in India.
Mayor Zubair Ali -: Mayor Zubair Ali is a leader of a city in Pakistan, similar to how Indian cities have mayors.
Chief Minister’s House -: The Chief Minister’s House is where the head of a province, like a state in India, lives and works.
Administrative powers -: Administrative powers are the authority to make decisions and manage public services in a city or town.
