MANSEHRA: Chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils announced on Sunday that they would boycott the government programmes if they were not granted powers enshrined in the Local Government Act, 2013.

“We have started protesting against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and will also boycott programmes and events attended by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers,” Basharat Ali Swati, president of Local Government Ittehad, told a presser here.

Flanked by chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils, he explained that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had previously committed to releasing development funds and granting rights to local governments in several meetings held earlier this year.

“However, Mr Gandapur has since gone back on his commitment, now citing financial constraints as a barrier to releasing development funds,” Mr Swati said.

He said that representatives from local governments in the Hazara division and rest of the province would hold protest demonstrations and rallies at tehsil headquarters today (Monday) to pressure the government to meet their demands.

“We will also pass resolutions strongly condemning the denial of rights and funds to local governments during these protests,” Mr Swati said.

He said that voters in Hazara and other parts of the province were frustrated with the grassroots system, as nearly three years had passed since the elections, yet not a single development project had been executed. “If the government cannot grant rights to local governments and release funds, then why was such a system even introduced in the province” Mr Swati said.—Correspondent