The Shangla Accountability Movement has called for an independent audit of development funds spent in the district over recent years, urging authorities to launch a transparent investigation into public expenditure and project implementation across government departments.
Background of the Demand
The demand follows recent remarks by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government and Higher Education Mina Khan Afridi regarding the establishment of inquiry committees to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption in development schemes across the province.
Press Gathering
Addressing a press gathering, movement leaders, including social activist Niaz Khan Shangla, said residents had a fundamental right to know how much funding had been allocated for development projects in the district, how much money had been released, and whether the approved schemes had been completed in accordance with official plans.
Formation of Inquiry Committee
The group called for the formation of an independent and credible inquiry committee to scrutinise financial records relating to development projects undertaken by various government departments, including local government bodies, irrigation, public health engineering, communication and works, fisheries and other public-sector institutions.
Comprehensive Audit Required
According to the movement’s representatives, investigators should conduct a comprehensive audit to determine whether public funds were utilised efficiently and whether development schemes delivered the intended benefits to local communities. The organisation also called for investigations into road construction projects, water supply schemes and other infrastructure initiatives that it claims remain incomplete despite repeated allocations of development funds.
“The people of Shangla deserve complete transparency regarding public spending. Accountability is essential to ensure that development resources are used for the welfare of the district rather than lost through inefficiency or corruption,” the movement said in a statement.
Concerns Over Flood Rehabilitation Funds
The group further raised concerns about the utilisation of flood rehabilitation funds in the Puran area. It alleged that resources earmarked for flood-affected communities may not have been fully used for reconstruction and relief efforts and called for an independent inquiry to establish the facts.
Call for NAB Involvement
Movement leaders stressed that any investigation should examine whether allocated funds reached their intended beneficiaries and whether approved projects were executed in accordance with official guidelines. They also demanded the involvement of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), arguing that its participation would enhance the credibility and impartiality of any inquiry and help ensure accountability where wrongdoing is established.
Appeal to Residents
Appealing to residents across political and social divides, the movement urged citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening transparency, improving governance and safeguarding public resources. The demand for a district-wide audit comes amid growing public debate in Shangla over development spending, project implementation and access to information, issues that have increasingly featured in local political and civic discourse.
