Erra chief visits projects amid a dharna by a civil society group

Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) deputy chairman Maj-Gen Mohammad Azeem Asif inspected some under-construction projects in and on the outskirts of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital on Tuesday, passing platitudinous directions for accelerated progress and quality of work.

The visit coincided with a sit-in being staged by a civil society group since Monday against the alleged shelving of more than half of the projects originally pledged under the Muzaffarabad City Development Programme (MCDP).

As always, the Erra chief avoided interaction with local journalist community and instead the authority’s public relations department issued a ritualistic handout.

According to the handout, Mr Asif directed the project managers and contractors to complete multi billion projects including Saudi Arabia funded King Abdullah University, official residences of AJK president and prime minister and a city bridge within time.

 He also directed concerned Erra officials to strictly monitor the quality of construction work.

State Earthquake and Rehabilitation Agency (Serra) officials also briefed Mr Asif on the progress of ongoing 1800 projects in health, infrastructure and education sectors, the handout added. 

However, exasperated at alleged abandoning of around 70 reconstruction related projects and some other “discriminatory” actions of the AJK rulers vis-à-vis state capital, a civil society group set up a sit-in camp along the main thoroughfare outside press club.

Zahid Amin, a former head of Development Authority Muzaffarabad (DAM) who led the sit in, told reporters on the occasion that initially 105 projects had been conceived under the MCDP. However, of those, only 9 had so far been completed and another 22 were either under construction or in the pipeline, while at least 70 projects had almost been shelved.

He alleged that the MCDP authorities were hoodwinking the residents of Muzaffarabad through fake statements and claims.

Mr Amin reiterated a widely circulating allegation that the previous federal government had shifted Rs 55 billion from the reconstruction related funds to some other head, due to which the reconstruction programme had taken a nosedive.

“Ironically the present government has failed to return that amount and consequently most of the significant projects are being shelved under one or the other pretext,” he said…..Tariq Naqash

German Govt, people praised for support to healthcare improvement in AJK

Speakers at a function on Tuesday expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of Germany for their generous support to improve health services and health related education in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the aftermath of the devastating 2005 earthquake.

The ceremony was held in the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (UAJK) Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences to mark the completion of four years of academic studies and training in the allied teaching hospitals by the region’s first ever batch of Bachelor of Science (BS) in Medical Technology.

It may be recalled here that after the destructive temblor, the German government offered rehabilitation and reconstruction of three hospitals in as many affected AJK towns, financing the project by a grant fund of €30 million through its KfW Development Bank.

The project also envisaged training and skill development measures for the hospital personnel for better service delivery through Theodor Fliedner Academy, which was later converted into a full-fledged faculty of UAJK.

The first batch comprising around 80 health department employees (paramedics and health technicians) and 30 private candidates started their classes in March 2010 without any tuition fees.

That batch, which was gradually reduced to 82 students, rolled out last month after successfully completing the 4-year degree programme. 

They will receive their degrees in diverse medical disciplines such as anaesthesiology, cardiovascular technology, clinical laboratory sciences, radiology and imaging sciences, dialysis, emergency medicine, physiotherapy and surgical technology.

The ceremony was told that other than them, the strength of students in four batches stood at 428, with 60 per cent female enrolment, reflecting and facilitating women empowerment in AJK.

“On behalf of the AJK people, we express our most sincere gratitude and admire the philanthropy by the German people represented by their government in creating a great opportunity for our youth who opt to become allied health professionals and serve the ailing humanity,” said Prof Dr Bashir ur Rehman Kanth, faculty’s director on the occasion.

He pointed out that Pakistan and AJK desperately lacked professionally trained allied health personnel at par with the international standards, as currently only four public sector universities in the country were offering this vital education.

 “The deficiency not only affects the healthcare quality but also the operationalisation and maintenance of sophisticated and costly medical equipment and gadgets procured by and for the healthcare facilities,” he said.

Dr Kanth said the programme was expected to be extremely useful in both short and long terms as properly trained graduates in medical technology had bright prospects of grabbing jobs not just within the country but also abroad.

Assistant Prof Dr Raja Mushtaq Ahmed and first batch student Amna Kazmi also spoke at the function, which was told that UAJK Vice Chancellor Dr Dilnawaz Ahmed Gardezi had also written a letter of thanks to the Islamabad based German ambassador, besides inviting him to the faculty at his convenience to the delight of its members and students….. Tariq Naqash 

AJK youth express solidarity with their contemporaries across the divide

Hundreds of young political activists and students assembled in a big playground in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital on Monday to express solidarity with their contemporaries braving tyranny and oppression across the Line of Control (LoC) without any diminution in their resolve for freedom.

The gathering at the University College Ground, just across the mausoleums of Mirwaz Maulvi Yousuf Shah and K H Khurshid in the main old city, also saw teachers, traders, senior political leaders and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) AJK chapter representatives among the attendees, including AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed who had given the call for observance of this day.

Apart from the speeches by leaders in attendance, participants also heard Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from Srinagar by telephone. 

The entire venue was decorated with panaflex banners, inscribed with pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Most of the young participants were also holding placards with similar slogans and waving Pakistani and AJK flags.

Mr Majeed condemned the brutalities let loose by Indian troops in held Kashmiri, particularly the persecution of Kashmiri youths for their only sin of “irresistible love for Pakistan.”

 “I want to assure all my brothers and sisters across the divide especially young generation that we are with you through thick and thin and being the prime minister of the base camp (launch pad) of freedom movement, its my prime responsibility to utilise all energies for the accomplishment of our common goal,” he said.

Pointing out that the unresolved Kashmir issue posed a grave threat to the peace and stability of the entire South Asian region, Mr Majeed said: “The world is on the verge of a dreadful nuclear war which India is persistently inviting through its intransigence vis-à-vis peaceful resolution of the longstanding Kashmir issue.”

Referring to the recently held Indian polls, he maintained that it made no difference that who had come to power in the so-called largest democracy because Kashmiris had never accepted Indian constitution and farcical elections under it.

He expressed gratitude to political and military leadership of Pakistan, particularly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, for their bold and just stance on Kashmir as well as unflinching moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people.

In his address, Mr Geelani also thanked the government and the people of AJK and Pakistan for their support to the struggling Kashmiris.

“A strong Pakistan with a united leadership is not just the need of the Pakistanis but also of the oppressed Kashmiris as it ensures their early emancipation,” he said.

Appreciating the youths of AJK and Pakistan for their show of solidarity, he said: “You are our future and you need to maintain your sublime character, righteousness and higher degree of morality to move ahead and take charge of the freedom movement.”

In his address, the Mirwaiz observed that sacrifices offered by the Kashmiri youths were the golden chapter of the history of struggle for right to self-determination.

“Hurriyat has a slogan Kashmir ka Tarjuman Kashmir ka Nojwaan (Youth of Kashmir is the representative of Kashmir) because the youth that started freedom struggle and they will take it to its logical end,” he said.

The Mirwaiz recalled that around 10,000 youngsters were missing in held Kashmir and thousands others had been unlawfully put behind the bars but, nonetheless, India had miserably failed to stamp out their struggle.

AJK Legislative Assembly speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq, ruling Peoples Party secretary general and finance minister Chaudhry Latif, and several other leaders also spoke on the occasion. Later, a memorandum was delivered at the UN mission here. 

Officials said that similar rallies were also staged in other parts of AJK…Tariq Naqash

Belligerent AJK ministers reconcile on the intervention of their actual 'boss'

Two belligerent members of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet reconciled with each other on Thursday at the bidding of a representative of a central leader of Pakistan Peoples Party who calls the shots in this region.

Senior minister Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin had an altercation with minister for finance, planning and development Chaudhry Latif Akbar at the Wednesday’s quarterly review meeting of development budget on seating arrangements in the presence of Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, seven other cabinet members and senior government officials.

Following the acrimonious exchange, the finance minister had walked out of meeting in protest and was followed by four other cabinet colleagues. The meeting was postponed immediately afterwards.

After the unpleasant incident, Mr Akbar rushed to his office where he was joined by around a dozen ministers and a large number of his supporters in the ruling party. In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Majeed also reached there in a bid to pacify his angry finance minister. However, an unbending minister told him that he could not continue in the cabinet in present circumstances.

Later in the afternoon, Mr Majeed visited Mr Akbar’s residence as well to assuage his anger, but could not get a much favourable response.

On the other hand, the senior minister, who holds the lucrative portfolios of local government and rural development (LG&RD) and hydropower generation, was also aghast at ransacking of his office and stressed for stern action against the miscreants who he believed were closely associated with the finance minister.

According to credible sources, in a meeting with prime minister on Wednesday in the presence of some other cabinet colleagues, Mr Yasin had also hurled corruption allegations at the finance minister. His supporters in his hometown in Kotli and Bhimber also took out rallies and condemned what they alleged biased attitude of finance minister.

However, things started to take a change for better after Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz, a representative of Ms Faryal Talpur MNA, arrived in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday evening and held separate meetings with Mr Akbar and Mr Yasin at their residences to defuse the situation.

Mr Riaz, who is a resident of Faisalabad, was an adviser to Sindh chief minister during his previous stint, but was always found in Islamabad. In December last year, he was appointed as an adviser to AJK prime minister with the status of minister. While two other advisers, appointed through the same notification, were administered oath by the prime minister, Mr Riaz is however yet to take the oath. Nevertheless, he is mentioned as ‘senior adviser’ in all handouts issued by the AJK prime minister’s office.

 On Thursday, Mr Akbar and Mr Yasin went to the capital’s only five star hotel, where Mr Riaz was putting up, to disseminate the message of reconciliation between them. Five other ministers were also present on the occasion, according to a group photo released to the media.

Later, the ruling Peoples Party’s parliamentary party held a meeting in the PM House, which according to an official handout was “specially attended by party’s representative and senior adviser Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz on the direction of Ms Faryal Talpur.”

“At the meeting, the senior minister and finance minster announced removal of resentment (against each other) and vowed to play a vigorous role for service to people, development of the region and Kashmir freedom struggle,” the handout said.

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ministers' fight on seating arrangements stirs up trouble for PPP govt

An altercation between two senior members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on seating arrangements during a meeting here on Wednesday stirred up serious trouble for Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, who later pulled all the stops to defuse the potentially explosive situation but to no avail, at least for the time being.

It all happened at the third quarterly review meeting of Annual Development Programme for 2013-14 in the committee room of civil secretariat under the aegis of AJK Planning and Development (P&D) department, with PM Majeed in the chair.

The organisers had placed the chair of minister for finance and P&D Chaudhry Latif Akbar next to that of the prime minister, followed by senior minister/minister for local government and rural development (LG&RD) Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin and other cabinet members. On premier’s left side were the seats of chief secretary, secretary P&D and other senior officials.

According to witnesses, the senior minister who arrived at the meeting along with the premier got angry at the placement of his chair after that of the finance minister, conjecturing that it was a deliberate attempt to undermine his status and protocol.

He whispered in the ear of the finance minister and dragged and placed his chair with that the prime minister, witnesses added.

In the meanwhile, as recitations from the holy Quran were finished, Mr Yasin started shouting against the finance minister, notwithstanding premier’s gestures by for restraint.  

“Your role has always been negative… You have always created problems for me but I have tolerated,” he shouted, according to witnesses.

“Who you have dubbed me as malevolent? You are yourself a malevolent. I never talk like this,” added the senior minister, possibly in retaliation to some remarks by Mr Akbar, inaudible to other participants.

On this, Mr Akbar rose to his seat and walked out of the committee room in protest. 

While he was on his way out, minister for college education Matloob Inqilabi took strong exception to the outbursts of Mr Yasin, followed by minister for works Chaudhry Rasheed and minister for Mangla Dam affairs Mohammad Hussain Sargala.

They all also walked out to express solidarity with Mr Akbar.

Health minister Sardar Qamaruz Zaman also joined them, but only after making a brief speech. “I have already been saying that this government is failure and I endorse those who have walked out,” he said.

Mr Yasin and three other cabinet members – Pervaiz Ashraf, Afsar Shahid and Abdus Salam Butt – however stayed behind.

Chief secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal rushed outside to bring the angry cabinet members back, but in vain, following which the meeting was postponed and Mr Majeed himself drove to Mr Akbar’s office in the old P&D building, where over a dozen ministers had gathered by then, to cool him down.

However, an angry finance minister told the premier: "Enough is enough."

“I have made a decision that I cannot continue in your cabinet,” he added, according to sources  present there.

When the prime minister was holding talks with Mr Akbar, around 10-15 activists ransacked the office chambers of Mr Yasin in the adjacent building. Amid slogans against Mr Yasin, they also roughed up two resistant peons. The act was later condemned by Mr Akbar.

Sources said as prime minister returned to his office, Mr Yasin called on him to voice his grievances. He maintained that Mr Akbar was at odds with him due to withdrawal of hydropower generation portfolio and accused Mr Akbar of having received kickbacks against some projects.

 It may be recalled that Mr Yasin was given the charge of Hydro Electric Board (HEB), recently renamed as Power Development Organisation, in April 2012. However, in October last year, it was withdrawn from him and given to Mr Akbar. In March this year, it was again given to Mr Yasin, reportedly on the advice of PPP central leadership.

Mr Yasin was also adamant about registration of cases against the miscreants who had ransacked his office, disrespected national flags and portraits of central leadership.

However, sources said police were told to put the issue on hold.

Later in the afternoon, Mr Majeed also visited the residence of Mr Akbar along with some other ministers in his desperate bids to normalise situation. 

In a statement issued later, Mr Yasin maintained that the government was strong under the leadership of Mr Majeed and differences or difference of opinion were a routine matter in a democratic party. 

“However, fanning petty difference and provoking workers was neither in the interest of party nor its government,” he said.

According to sources, Mr Majeed has convened the parliamentary party meeting here at 9 am on Thursday. Chaudhry Riaz, an aide of MNA Faryal Talpur who calls the shots in AJK, had also reached here to attend the meeting.

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