SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Members of provincial council in northwestern Jawzjan province claimed settling a large number of problems particularly addressing tribal disputes but some were not satisfied with their performance.
Results of the provincial council election of April 5 elections were announced in November 2014. After the provincial councils’ ballot result, the parliament decided to limit the right of provincial council with regard of evaluation of local departments’ performance.
However, the provincial council members opposed the parliament’s step, closing the council offices for a month to protest the issue.
The provincial council office of Jawzjan was reopened on March 10 after one month of protest.
Deputy provincial council head Abdul Qadir Malia told Pajhwok Afghan News that his office resolved several problems particularly disputes between some people and groups.
Citing an example, Qadir said that six months ago residents of Aqcha and Faizabad districts of the province had engaged in a dispute over irrigation water, which resulted into the injuries of some people.
When the residents referred the problem to the provincial council, he said the council succeeded to settle the dispute permanently, he said.
He said that a stream flowing to Faizabad district was controlled by the people of Aqcha that created problem for Faizabad residents in access to clean water. Malia added that the issue was then resolved following interference by provincial council.
Tens of people everyday refers their problems to the council for solution, he said, adding the council had tried somehow to address people’s problems.
“Most of the cases referring to us include legal and social issues as well as other issues of serious nature. We address them after broad based consultations among our colleagues,” he said.
Calling the provincial council a bridge between the government and people, Malia said: “We also evaluate the performance of local government and listen to people’s problems in order to better serve the masses.”
However, some residents of Jawzjan were not satisfied with the provincial council and alleged that the council had no mean for most of the people.
Sardar, a resident of Shiberghan City, the capital of the province, said that the performance of the council was less than 10 percent because they did not do work for the interest of people.
“The council is a meaningless office and no one hears their complaints,” he said, adding the provincial council was ineffective.
Abdul Rehman, another resident of the city, said: “The council members do not resolve our problems and even mistreat us whenever we refer our problems to them.”
“We are now repentant why we cast our vote in the provincial council elections,” he said.
But a member of the council Halima Sadaf said that their office was only carrying out assessment regarding performance of local governance.
She said that new reforms in government offices in the province were the result of the provincial council efforts.
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