KHAR: Proadministration elders in Bajaur Agency on Wednesday resented the delay in payment of their regular stipend for the month of May.

Talking to this scribe, a group of tribal elders said that they did not receive their monthly allowances for May, which were usually paid in the first week of every month.

The elders flayed the local administration for not informing them about the real situation, adding that they had been visiting the administration offices since start of June to get the allowance but the officials refused to either give their payment or say anything about the delay.

The elders threatened to stage a protest if they did not get their stipend. Some of the elders said that it would be difficult for them to manage their expenses if they did not receive the amount soon.

Hoping that they would be paid the stipend beforeEid, the elders termed the delay in release of allowance as another setback for them after cancellation of the Ramazan package.

They appealed to the political agent and others senior officials to take notice of the delay in payment of stipend.

Some of the elders said that they would not tolerate suspension of their allowances as it was being paid from the welfare funds.

When contacted, an administration of ficial overseeing monetary affairs told this correspondent that the allowance for May had been cancelled and the decision in this regard was taken by the political agent.

The official claimed that lacl( of money in the administration`s social welfare funds was the main reason for suspension of the allowance.

He said that the decision would also affect the needy persons, including students and orphans.

Answering a question, the official said that the allowance for June was likely to be paid to the elders.