MINGORA: Linking solution to the public issues to a strong and empowered local government system, Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North, chief Inayatullah on Sunday said country’s leadership was under the control of mafias and that major decisions were being made by these groups instead of the people.
Addressing a protest sit-in organised by Jamaat-e-Islami in support of local governments at Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif, Swat, he alleged that people were being burdened with taxes to meet World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s conditions, while powers were deliberately not devolved to local government representatives due to mafia interests.He said that JI had launched protests to demand empowerment of the local government system.
The local government representatives must be given constitutional protection, adequate financial resources and complete authority so that problems faced by people at the grassroots level could be effectively addressed,” he said and regretted that no meeting regarding funds for
local bodies had been convened during the last four years, calling it highly unfortunate.
He urged local government representatives to launch an organised movement for the restoration of their powers and to support JI in this struggle. “We have come out against the mafia, and all local representatives should join us in this movement,” he added.
The JI leader also strongly criticized the PTI government in the province, alleging that the local government system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been destroyed and that corruption worth billions of rupees had taken place. He claimed that corrupt politicians, using the name of Imran Khan, had misled the youth.
Other speakers at the convention also endorsed the demand for empowering local governments, terming it essential for resolving public issues. A rally was also taken out at the end of the convention.
