Non-release of funds: LG reps in Oghi threaten to stage protest

MANSEHRA: The members of the Oghi Tehsil Council on Tuesday warned of street protests if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government didn’t release the funds announced by the chief minister for the local governments across the province.

“Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a special grant of Rs50 million for each tehsil council in the province, but funds for Darband and Oghi are being withheld on political grounds,” Nawabzada Hassam, the tehsil chairman, told the session.

The session, which was presided over by convener Syed Arif Shah, passed a resolution demanding an unconditional apology from Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar for his allegations that local government representatives sold their consciousness and did not vote for his father-in-law Nawaz Sharif in the February 8 general elections.

“We strongly condemn the horse-trading allegations levelled by Captain Safdar against the chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils,” said Nawabzada Hassam.

The session, also addressed by Ijaz Ahmad, Malik Mian Baz, Mohammad Irfan, Yaseen Tanoli, Malik Noorul Amin, Ishaq Tanoli, Tahir Swati, and others, called on the government to include health facilities from Oghi to offer free healthcare services to residents locally.

Hassam added that the people of Oghi and Darband tehsil councils were still deprived of development funds.“Both tehsil councils, which also cover the vast areas of Tanawal and Agror, are still awaiting development funds,” he said.