DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Awami National Party on Monday expressed support for local government representatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protesting against what they described as deprivation of powers and non-provision of funds, saying the move was contrary to democratic principles.
Addressing a protest demonstration outside the KP Assembly building, ANP provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai said local government representatives were the real and directly elected representatives of the people and stripping them of their constitutional and legal authority amounted to undermining democratic values.
He said the ANP stood firmly with the local government representatives and would raise its voice at every forum for the attainment of their legitimate rights.
Mr Yousafzai said the party had consistently advocated devolution of authority to the grassroots level in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
However, he added, the provincial government appeared unwilling to take the matter seriously.
“If the provincial government claims to be a mandate-based government, then these local representatives have also been elected through the votes of the people,” he said, adding that they were striving for development and public service rather than personal interests.
Without naming individuals, he questioned the mandate of the current chief minister and asked whether the electorate had voted for road blockades and measures that caused inconvenience to citizens.
He also criticised what he described as the provincial government’s performance, asking it to clarify which major development projects had been completed and what tangible relief had been provided to the public so far.
The ANP leader said those who, according to him, came to power through “undemocratic means” were now facing demands from elected representatives.
He urged the Pashtun population to reflect on who their genuine representatives were, adding that while not all Pashtuns were affiliated with the ANP, the party considered itself a representative voice of the community and would continue its struggle for their rights.
