PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Council Association on Thursday adjourned its protest here against the “denial of development funds and powers” for 20 days after the government promised to address their grievances.

In a related development, the East Cantonment police in the provincial capital booked seven leaders of the protesting local government representatives for blocking the Khyber Road to traffic.

On Wednesday, the police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters from outside the provincial assembly on the Khyber Road.

The LG representatives gathered at the Jinnah Park in large numbers again on Thursday to demand development funds and powers for them.

Police book seven leaders of protesters for blocking road

They were joined by Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz provincial president and federal minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam.

A provincial government committee, headed by local government minister Arshad Ayub Khan, showed up and held talks with KPLCA members.

Minister Arshad told Dawn that his team had assured protesters of the resolution of their issues.

He said that a proposal, drafted in consultation with the KPLCA regarding its grievances, would be placed before the provincial cabinet next Monday.

The minister said that KPLCA was promised the maximum possible development funding by the provincial government.

“We will also arrange their [LG members’] meeting with the chief minister next week,” he said.

Mr Arshad said the use of force against protesters was regretted.

When contacted, KPLCA president Himayatullah Mayar said the association had adjourned its protest for 20 days after the government promised resolution of their issues.

He said that the government committee had asked the KPLCA to give them 10 days to meet demands but the latter doubled that time.

Federal minister Amir Muqam and ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar condemned police for subjecting violence to the elected local government representatives in Peshawar and declared it an “illogical step” on part of the government.

Mr Muqam told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that it was unfortunate that the provincial government carried out a violent action against peaceful protesters on the first day of the New Year.

He condemned the tear-gassing and baton-charging of LG members and said violence against peaceful protesters went against democratic values.

“Police action against elected people is ample proof of the contradiction in words and deeds of the ruling PTI’s leadership about the people’s right to protest,” he said.

Mr Muqam, who is also provincial president of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, asked the provincial government to immediately address the issues of LG representatives to remove their unrest. He said LG representatives staged a peaceful protest outside the provincial assembly’s building against the denial of development funds and powers, so the provincial government, instead of addressing those grievances, ordered violent action against protesters.

Meanwhile, ANP leader Iftikhar Hussain told protesters that the provincial government’s unfair conduct towards elected LG representatives was unacceptable.

He said violence against peaceful protesters was the height of lawlessness.

“Why was the act, under which LG elections were held, amended? Those amendments were made after the PTI’s failure in elections revealed the ruling party’s double standard,” he said.

Mr Hussain said the amendments disempowered elected representatives and rendered the LG system inactive.

He accused the government of deceiving the PTI-affiliated tehsil council chairmen in the name of development funds.

“We demand that immediate funds be released to all tehsil councils across the province without discrimination,” he said.

The ANP leader said the police should provide security to peaceful protesters instead of resorting to violence against them.

He wondered why those protesting a crackdown on D-Chowk rally were silent about the police action against peaceful KPLCA protesters in the provincial capital. Mr Hussain said residents suffered due to the discord between KP and the centre.

He complained about a delay in the announcement of NFC Award, the government’s “silence” on due power and gas payments, and non-implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2025