JUIF seeks funds for LGs

MANSEHRA: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) on Monday announced to launch a protest to pressure the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to release development funds to local governments in the province.

“Our party emerged as the single largest political force in the province in the LG elections almost three years ago. However, our party workers elected as tehsil, village, and neighbourhood council chairmen have yet to receive development funds,” Qari Mohammad Siddique, the tehsil emir, told a party gathering in Oghi.

The event was attended by JUIF’s village and neighbourhood council chairmen and representatives, who pledged to struggle for their rights.

Qari Mohammad Siddique accused the PTI government of conspiring to undermine the grassroots-level governance system in the province by withholding funds needed for development projects.

“We back tehsil, village, and neighborhood council chairmen across the board to compel the government to release funds,” he said.JUIF leader Abdul Razzaq stressed that the government should ensure the prompt release of development funds to local bodies.

“The government should not only release development funds but also empower tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils to handle governance matters at the grassroots level under the Local Government Act of 2013,” he said.