Centre's panel for ex-Fata funding unconstitutional, insists KP chief minister.

PESHAWAR -- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday lashed out at the federal government for forming a committee to disburse development funds in tribal districts and insisted that the move was unconstitutional.

Addressing the oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected cabinet and governing body of the Peshawar Press Club here, the chief minister said the steering committee notified by the federal government for the disbursement of development funds to tribal districts had no legal standing and was unconstitutional after the enactment of the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

He said the appointment of a civil servant as that committee's chairman and the provincial governor as its member was incomprehensible.

'We will challenge the notification at every level as it is tantamount to usurping the rights of the province,' he said.

Mahmood says move to be challenged at 'every level'

Mr Mahmood said the entire development planning and identification of projects under the Accelerated Implementation Programme had been carried out by the provincial government, whereas the current federal government was hesitant to provide funds to tribal districts due to political motives.

He said it was unfortunate that the federal government didn't provide the budgeted funds to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while giving away huge funds to MNAs of the ruling PDM under the Sustainable Development Goals.

'Out of the allocated Rs55 billion development budget for tribal districts, the federal government has thus far provided Rs5 billion only in a clear violation of the rights of the province,' he said.

The chief minister said his government was paying salary to officials in tribal districts as well as funds for the Sehat Card initiative in the region from its own resources.

He condemned the terrorist attack on the Sarband police stationand declared it a heinous crime against...