M. Irshad Ullah
CHITRAL: Serious questions have emerged over the alleged negligence of the district administration Lower Chitral after dozens of deserving individuals were reportedly excluded from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Ramazan relief package.
Despite clear instructions issued through an official notification by the assistant director Local Government, the district administration has been accused of sidelining lists of beneficiaries compiled by elected village council representatives.
The notification had directed each union council to provide a list of 192 eligible individuals, including widows, persons with disabilities, orphans, and economically disadvantaged families.
Chairmen of Ayun-I and Ayun-II Village Councils Wajihuddin and Muhammad Rehman told the media that they conducted thorough door-to-door surveys to ensure transparency in identifying deserving recipients. The finalized lists, they said, were submitted to the district administration well within the deadline.
However, the chairmen claimed that not a single name from their verified lists was included in the final distribution. “This is not just a rejection of names it is a blatant disregard for the needs of the poor,” said Wajihuddin.
“We fulfilled our responsibility with honesty, but the administration chose to ignore the ground realities.”
Local representatives described the move as a violation of the administration’s own notification and an attempt to marginalize the role of elected local bodies.
“Such actions erode public trust and damage the credibility of the local government system,” added Muhammad Rehman.
Affected citizens, many of whom are widows, disabled persons, and daily-wage workers, have reportedly been making repeated visits to village council offices, district offices, and authorized shops in hopes of receiving their relief share only to be turned away empty-handed.
Several community members expressed frustration, stating that the package was a crucial lifeline for their families during the fasting month. “Without this assistance, we are unable to meet even our basic needs,” said one elderly resident of Ayun.
The chairmen have appealed to the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court and the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take immediate notice of the matter. They have demanded a fresh and transparent survey to ensure that actual deserving beneficiaries receive their rightful share of the Ramadan package.
If corrective measures are not taken, we will be left with no option but to pursue legal action, they warned.