AJKRSP struggling to reclaim its 'missing' assets

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rural Support Programme (AJKRSP), an organisation raised to perk up the economic conditions of rural communities in AJK has been desperately struggling for almost a year to reclaim its “missing” assets, including a dozen vehicles, but in vain.

The AJKRSP was launched by the government in June 2007 under the Companies Ordinance, 1984, with Rs 250 million-endowment fund. According to the 2007 notification, AJK prime minister headed the company’s board of directors as chairman.

In 2009, the then AJK premier withdrew government’s role from the AJKRSP but the new board of directors was not recognised by the Registrar Joint Stock Companies, Firms and Associations (JSCFA).

In March last year, the government revived the initially constituted board which removed AJKRSP’s the then chief executive officer (CEO) Attiqur Rehman and replaced him by Mian Akhlaq Rasool.

The same board was validly recognised by the Registrar JSCFA and Form 29 was issued in its favour in April last year.

Mr Rehman who was simultaneously holding the post of regional manager, National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), filed a petition in the AJK High Court against his removal, which was dismissed in November 2013.

However, Mr Rehman and some of his team members were alleged to have retained assets of the AJKRSP, including vehicles, registration books and other equipment, which they were not returning despite several requests and reminders.

According to official record, 25 Toyota double cabin pickups, 5 Mitsubishi Lancer cars, one Toyota Hiace Hi-Roof wagon, 16 motorbikes and other equipment, including electronic gadgets, were purchased for the organisation.

However, Khawaja Mohammad Iqbal, programme officer (admin and HR), told this scribe that after the new administration took over, it transpired that most of the assets and belongings as well as record and registration books, were missing.

Reports were instantly lodged with the police in Muzaffarabad as well as in Mirpur, with copies to senior police and administration officials but only a few items could be recovered to this day, he said.

Giving details of the missing assets, he said, 5 pickups, 2 cars and 2 motorbikes were allegedly in NRSP regional office near Sihala Islamabad under control of Mr Rehman.  Apart from that, he added, at least 13 laptops, 2 desktops, 2 multimedia, 4 laser printers, 3 split air conditioners, 1 photocopier, 4 digital cameras, a generator and some other small items purported to have been purchased by the previous management were also in their possession.

There was altogether no record of the furniture, equipment etc purchased for the organisation’s “camp office” near Sihala, Mr Iqbal said.

When contacted for comments, the former CEO acknowledged that the “board”  (referring to the unrecognised one) was in possession of “some of the assets,” including 7 vehicles.

He however maintained that the “board” was lawfully possessing them whereas the present management was unlawful and thus “occupying the remaining assets and offices unlawfully.”

Brushing off his contentions, Mr Rasool asserted that the stance of the previous management had found no takers in the official and legal circles.

“The assets were purchased from public money and must be brought back to the head office. Who knows where and how they are being (mis)used over the last one year,” he said.

Documents available with this scribe further revealed that the AJK prime minister's secretariat had also obtained 3 cars and 2 pickups from the AJKRSP between 2010-2013 and it was not known as to who they had been provided to by the PM secretariat.

When questioned about it, Mr Rasool said he had sent at least three reminders to the PM secretariat for return of these vehicles, but to no avail…. Tariq Naqash