AJK govt calls joint sitting to condemn MQM chief remarks

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has called a joint sitting of the AJK Assembly and the AJK Council here on Friday to express condemnation of an alleged provocative and anti-state speech of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

A day before the joint sitting, protest rallies would also be held at all district headquarters of AJK on Thursday against the Britain based MQM leader on the call of Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, according to an official handout issued here on Monday.

On the advice of Mr Majeed, his Minister for Finance, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, had submitted a resolution against Mr Hussain in the Legislative Assembly secretariat, the handout added. 

It said that Mr Majeed had given an “ultimatum of 72 hours” to the two MQM ministers in his cabinet “to dissociate themselves from Mr Hussain.”

There was no clarification as to how the ultimatum had been conveyed to the MQM ministers and what action would be taken if they did not comply with it. 

 It may be mentioned here that the two MQM lawmakers – Tahir Khokhar and Saleem Butt – have been elected for the second consecutive term from the constituencies of Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan, mainly Karachi.

The MQM has been an ally of the Peoples Party led government in AJK from the inception of sitting assembly in 2011. In October last year, the party announced that its members would quit the AJK government like that of Sindh in protest against PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s outburst against Mr Hussain.

The announcement made by MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar notwithstanding, resignations of his party’s ministers in AJK remained a mystery for a long time, as neither the government accepted nor publicly rejected the same. 

The duo did not surrender the perks and privileges admissible to cabinet members for a single day. But while Mr Khokhar stopped taking interest in the affairs of his transport ministry, his colleague continued to organise different events and programmes to promote sports and Kashmiri culture under his sports, youth and culture ministry. 

In the handout, Premier Majeed said further stay of MQM ministers in his cabinet would be tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiris, who were fighting Indian rule in the held territory while waving Pakistani flags. 

While praising the armed forces as defenders of the honour and integrity of Kashmiris and guarantors of the stability of Pakistan, Mr Majeed maintained that the ‘venomous propaganda’ by Mr Hussain against the armed forces and other national institutions amounted to commission of treason, which no patriotic Pakistani could tolerate.

He asserted that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had upheld party’s tradition to offer sacrifices for the supreme interests of the country, and added that it was under Mr Zardari’s reconciliation policy that MQM was taken in the folds of AJK government in 2011.

However, ironically when Zarb-e-Azab and Karachi operations were launched by the army to purge the country of the menace of terrorism, “Mr Hussain was seen siding by the anti-state forces,” the AJK premier said.

He said people of Kashmir who had already declared Pakistan as their ultimate destiny could not afford any conspiracy aimed at weakening the country.

When contacted by telephone, Mr Khokhar took strong exception to the statement of Mr Majeed and said the PPP had no right to dictate to the MQM ministers about their political affiliation. 

 “This is a childish rather (sic) cheap move on the part of the AJK government… They have resorted to it to please some institutions and to cover up their corruption,” he said.

Mr Khokhar said he had come to know about the ‘ultimatum’ from some TV channels, and as yet he had not received anything from the government in black and white.

"Why is he giving ultimatum, he should take action whatever he wants," he said.

Tariq Naqash

Ramazan dastarkhaan - an awe-inspiring activity by local youths

A volunteer brings fruit

peeling and cutting fruit for iftari

For all twenty-nine days of the holy month of Ramazan, a famous shrine in the heart of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital had been the scene of an awe-inspiring activity. 

Named as “dastarkhan” (cloth on which food is served), it was the offering of iftar-cum-dinner to as  many as 700 underprivileged people by a group of around 40 devoted volunteers, associated with two local social outfits - KasaMira Organisation and Bazm-e-Ashiqan-e-Naseer.

“Being close to our hearts, this activity has been giving us a sense of satisfaction and contentment that words fail to describe,” said Ibrar Awan, who headed the team of good Samaritans.

A jeweler by profession, the 26-year old bearded youth told this scribe that over the past few years his KasaMira Organisation had been organizing small scale iftaris in different mosques in main old city.  

Volunteers making sweet drink 

However, last year some people suggested that we should organize mass iftar for the poverty stricken labour class found in plenty in the proximity of Shah Inayat Shrine near Upper Adda, he recalled.

“Initially, I was bit afraid that whether we will be able to manage an iftari for this much strength on a daily basis, but after being emboldened by some affluent and philanthropic family members, I took up the challenge with the help of my colleagues and succeeded,” he added.

Last year they had to put out panaflax adverts to attract people to iftari. But this year, the attendees were no less than 700 from the day one of fasting. Sometimes the figure swelled to 1000.

The menu included dates, two kinds of fruit, sherbet (sweet drink) and biryani with a drumstick.

The volunteers – all in their 20s – would get to their work at 4 pm, putting on white t-shirts inscribed with the word “dastarkhan” and bearing the insignia of both organisations.

After 4 pm, one of them would bring fruit and others would start peeling and cutting it in bite-size pieces.

Some young children would also take part in this activity.

Given the large number of people dastarkhan laid on the alley outside Shrine

Muhammad Muzammil, an 11-year old disciple of a religious seminary in Rawalpindi, was one of them.

When asked why he does so, the young t-shirt clad boy responded, though shyly: “I love to help these elders.”

Nearby, other volunteers would prepare sweet drink in half a dozen big buckets.

By 5:30 pm, cauldrons of biryani would arrive and volunteers would start making their packets for one person.

Syed Hamza Gillani, 19, was among that team.

“My family would daily ask me to break the fast with them, but honestly speaking all of us felt more gratified at the service here,” he said.

Given the systemic and transparent arrangements, people approached them to put their share in the daily activity, costing up to Rs 50,000.

“Some people foot the entire bill while some contributed partly, either in cash or kind, in accordance with their financial capacity,” Ibrar said.

He told that a group of 40 University students had twice sponsored the whole iftari.

They also broke their fast here, he said.

“This reflects the unique quality of our people to zealously donate and spend in the way of Allah, regardless of their age or income group,” Ibrar said.

The volunteers had purchased 1000 plates, as many glasses, and other requisite crockery and cutlery to facilitate the fasting persons.

They would return home late in the night, after cleaning all used utensils to make them ready for the next evening.

Inside the Shrine

Generally, any monotonous routine loses its charm after few days, but Ibrar said the gusto of his team remained formidable throughout the holy month.

Rather, they appeared little gloomy as sighting of Shawwal moon marked the wind-up of their daily activity in the current lunar year.

“When you do anything to earn Allah’s blessings, the zeal and zest of the believers is bound to multiply,” Ibrar said.

Tariq Naqash 

ERRA pays to 'favourite' contractor without due legal process

Official circles in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are shocked at the “palpable leanings” of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) towards a contractor, who has been made an additional payment of Rs 62.8 million without completion of the due process of law.

Lately, AJK’s State Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (Serra) has also asked Erra to recover the “unlawfully released” public money from the contractor till the final judgment by the relevant court.

According to the documentary evidence and background interviews, a Rs 344.225 million contract envisaging construction of 10 basic health units, including 28 residential units, in district Poonch was awarded to M/S Shoukat Khan & Co under the ‘Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project’ (Eeap) in July 2008.

It may be recalled that the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union, DFID, AusAid and Finland had sanctioned a loan-cum-grant of around Rs 18 billion for rehabilitation of health, power, education and communications sectors in AJK’s earthquake-affected areas in 2006. The execution of Eeap began in 2008 and was financially closed in June 2011. However, physical closing is under process.

On completion of contract, contractor Shoukat Khan submitted 18 claims of (additional payment of) Rs 303.034 million, which were rejected by the concerned consultant - M/S EA Consulting (Pvt) Ltd.

After objection and on request by the contractor, Eeap chief engineer got an adjudicator appointed from the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for the settlement of dispute.

The adjudicator gave his decision in July 2013, accepting one claim worth Rs 27 million. Regarding another claim worth Rs 43 million, he said it could be paid if the consultant verified it. All other claims, amounting Rs 233 million, were rejected by the adjudicator.

However, Eeap chief engineer again approached the PEC against the adjudicator’s decision for appointment of an arbitrator.

In the meanwhile, in September 2013, Erra set up a committee at its headquarters to “amicably” resolve the issue “on the request of the contractor.” Interestingly, there is no clause for amicable settlement in the original contract agreement. However, on being asked by this scribe, a spokesman for Erra maintained that the committee was formed under clause 67.2 of “International Federation of Consulting Engineers (fidic) in line with the decision of Erra’s Project Steering Committee.

What raised eyebrows in Muzaffarabad was the fact that Eeap was not given representation in the said committee, notwithstanding the fact that the contract agreement was signed by Eeap chief engineer on behalf of the AJK health department, and Erra did not figure anywhere in it.

The Erra spokesman asserted that chief engineer Eeap was included in the committee later, “on his request.”

The committee came up with a decision that the contractor should be given Rs 70.169 million. However, when Eeap chief engineer was asked in January 2014 to make the said payment, the then Secretary Serra, Sardar Rahim Khan, refused to implement the “arbitrary direction” in favour of the contractor in a strong-worded note on the relevant file.

In October 2014, the PEC appointed an arbitrator who asked both the parties to give their claims and replies, so that he could initiate proper hearing from January 15.

Around same time, Erra established an ‘Eeap Closure Cell’ at its headquarters, deciding, among other things, that the Cell (and not the Muzaffarabad based chief engineer Eeap) would take up all disputes pending with the courts regarding Eeap with assistance from Erra’s legal wing.

On February 22, the arbitrator announced an award of Rs 62.8 million in favour of the contractor, in a decision which Serra alleges was a “clear-cut legal misconduct” for having been given on the basis of photocopies (of documents), without giving opportunity to Eeap for arguments and testimonies.

Under the Arbitrator Act, 1940, an award by an arbitrator attains finality only after a ruling of the court. The court enjoys the authority to either nullify or allow the award, after hearing the parties concerned.

However, while the contractor applied for the rule of the court before the additional district and session judge Muzaffarabad on March 4, Erra made him payment of Rs 62.8 million on March 13, without completion of court proceedings.

Interestingly, the contractor arrayed Eeap Closure Cell in his application. However, on May 22, the court itself served a notice on Muzaffarabad based chief engineer Eeap to file his comments for being "real defendants." 

Official sources say that Erra’s haste and its visible tilt towards the contractor had literally baffled them.

“I wonder why Erra has acted in a rushed manner to make payment to the contractor, without exhausting all available channels to reject the claims of contractor,” remarked one senior official at the AJK Law Department.

Rejecting the allegation that Erra acted in a rushed manner, spokesman Bilal Thaheem said in his written reply that Erra had found the award in the best interest of department and there was no legal misconduct observed in it from any angle.

However, to the question that why payment was made in less than three weeks after the announcement of award and without obtaining the rule of the court, he replied that Erra owed Rs 81.22 million to the contractor in connection with two other projects.

“Even if the decision received from the court is contrarily to the award, the payment of 62.8 million can be adjusted with Rs. 81.22 million due to the contractor,” he said.

Tariq Naqash

Wheat flour fortification project launched in AJK

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has become the first region in the country to launch the wheat flour fortification project with the assistance of a UN agency and a Canada based nongovernmental organisation.

The “Wheat Flour Fortification Project” has been initiated in the region by the AJK food department with the technical and financial assistance of World Food Programme (WFP) and Micronutrient Initiative (MI) from May this year initially for three years, but officials say it is most likely to be extended up to five years.

Nutritionists say that nearly half of Pakistan’s children and mothers are suffering from malnutrition and the “situation has been worse than many sub-Saharan African countries.”

According to the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of 2011, the ratio of stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height) had scaled up to 44 and 15 per cent from 31 and 12 per cent recorded in NNS of 2001-02.

The ratio of anaemia has gone up to 63 per cent in children and 51 per cent in pregnant women as compared to 51 and 29 percent in the 2001-02 NNS.

Similarly, the vitamin-A deficiency in children has increased to 54 per cent and in non pregnant women to 42 per cent from what was 13 and 6 per cent, respectively, in the 2001-02 NNS.

The only improvement has been observed in iodine deficiency, as its 63 and 76 per cent ratio in 2001-02 had decreased to 36 and 36 per cent in 2011.

“Without changing this situation, Pakistan risks suffering from a demographic nightmare of a growing unskilled, economically unproductive population rather than the demographic dividend which has powered its neighbours growing prosperity,” said Dr Ahsanullah Khan Bhurgri, MI’s national programme manager in Pakistan, at a workshop here on Monday.

The workshop was organised to sensitize the masses about the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies and use of fortified flour to address the Iron deficiency anaemia among the women and children.

Dr Bhurgri told that AJK had been chosen for the wheat flour fortification project for multiple reasons, major one being the state controlled mechanism for allocation of wheat quota to the wheat flour mills for grinding and onward distribution and sale through food depots.

According to the statistics, all 11 wheat flour mills across AJK are producing around 350,000 metric tons of wheat flour for its distribution and sale through the AJK food department. Apart from that, some of these mills are also authorised to purchase wheat from the private market for grinding.

“Under this project, which has been launched last month, we are providing pre-mix (comprising iron and folic acid) to these mills not only for the state provided quota of wheat but also for what they purchase from the open market for grinding,” Dr Bhurgri said.

On a whole, around 500,000 metric tons of wheat flour containing pre-mix would be provided to consumers in AJK, he added.

He said MI would shortly launch another project with fiscal cooperation from DFID to cover watermills for wheat flour fortification drive.

He said the project had initially been launched for three years. However after the approval of DFID funding, it would be extended to five years.

He further said that negotiations were underway with the AJK food and health departments to make it mandatory for the flour mills to provide wheat flour mixed with iron and folic acid.

Speaking at the workshop, AJK minister for agriculture, animal husbandry and information, Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi, appreciated MI efforts to introduce cost effective and sustainable solutions to address the micronutrient deficiencies globally, particularly in Pakistan and AJK.

 “This is an extremely significant development that addresses Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) in AJK with just a mere cost of Rs 2 per 20 Kg of flour,” he said.

Others who spoke included Dr Shabbir Dar, executive director, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad and AJK’ nutrition focal person, Sohail Manzoor, representative WFP and Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua, MI country director in Pakistan

 Tariq Naqash 

AJK Inland Revenue boss only twice in his head office

Believe it or not, the head of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Department of Inland Revenue has attended his office in the state capital Muzaffarabad only twice after assuming this position on deputation basis in June last year.

The services of Muhammad Waseem Altaf, a BPS-19 officer of the Inland Revenue Service of Pakistan, were placed at the disposal of the AJK Council on June 13, 2014, following which he was appointed as Commissioner Inland Revenue, a BPS-20 post, as well as head of the AJK’s Department of Inland Revenue.

The AJK Department of Inland Revenue falls under the administrative control of the AJK Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Federal Minister and Federal Secretary for Kashmir affairs happen to be the in-charge minister and in-charge secretary of the AJK Council.

After hardly a month, Mr Altaf was also given the charge of Commissioner Provincial Taxes, another BPS-20 post in the Department of Inland Revenue.

As per rules, an official on deputation cannot be promoted by the borrowing department. However, surprisingly Mr Altaf was offered not one but two BPS-20 posts in contravention of rules.

The standing instructions of Establishment Division clearly state that when a higher post falls vacant in an organisation the senior most official in that organisation shall be conferred current charge promotion.

However, in the AJK Department of Inland Revenue, two BPS-19 officers who qualified for promotion in next grade were refused their right, apparently for not being acceptable to the buyable bosses of the AJK Council.

Interestingly, despite being offered the charge of both offices, Mr Altaf came to Muzaffarabad in August for the first time to have an introductory meeting with the staff based at the headquarters of the AJK Department of Inland Revenue.

Afterwards, he visited his office in Muzaffarabad for the second and so far for the last time some three months ago to chair a meeting on revenue targets, sources in his office say.

On Friday last, when a similar meeting was held in the AJK Finance Department, Mr Altaf did not turn up there and instead sent his special assistant Mr Asim Shaukat to represent him.

It may also be interesting to mention here that Mr Shaukat, who was inducted in 2003 as assistant collector central excise in BPS-17, is currently holding the charge of three posts – assistant collector (BPS-17), deputy collector (BPS-18) and additional collector (BPS-19), thanks to Mr Altaf's special blessing.

Sources allege that in fact Mr Shaukat calls the shots in the AJK Department of Inland Revenue on behalf of Mr Altaf, who is more interested in poetry and movies than his job.

When this scribe contacted Mr Altaf on telephone on Thursday evening and asked him why he had not been attending his office in Muzaffarabad, he replied: “I visit that place (Muzaffarabad) as and when it is required.”

When asked how many times he had visited Muzaffarabad over the past 11 months, he gave a terse reply: “Several times.”

He stressed that the headquarters of AJK Department of Inland Revenue was in Mirpur and not in the state capital Muzaffarabad.

Interestingly, during the telephonic conversation with this scribe, Mr Altaf also claimed that he was speaking from Muzaffarabad. He declined to answer more questions on phone and instead invited this scribe to see him in his office in Muzaffarabad on Friday, perhaps assuming that this scribe was based in Islamabad and could hardly travel to Muzaffarabad to verify his presence.But, when this scribe visited his office in Muzaffarabad on Friday, it transpired that “the commissioner had not been there for many months.”

“He is in his Mirpur office and not here,” one official told this scribe, but declined to be identified.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Altaf is one of those officers who were recently ignored by the prime minister of Pakistan for promotion in BPS-20, reportedly on the issue of integrity.

Tariq Naqash 

In AJK Council, honesty is NOT the best policy

A senior most official of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Department of Inland Revenue, who had pinpointed losses to national exchequer to the tune of at least Rs 8 billion, is being made to pay a high price for the whistle blowing, it has been learnt.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, presently serving as Commissioner (Appeals) in BS-19, had submitted a comprehensive report to the Federal Secretary, Kashmir Affairs, in September 2013, highlighting gross irregularities in the issuance of tax refunds worth billions of rupees to the foreign companies engaged by WAPDA for Mangla raising project and Neelum-Jhelum Hydro-Power Project.

The Department of Inland Revenue (IR) falls under the administrative control of the AJK Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as chairman, and has its secretariat in Islamabad.

Federal Minister and Federal Secretary, Kashmir Affairs, happen to be its in-charge minister and administrative secretary, respectively.

In his report, Mr Ahmed had identified the alleged irregularities involving receipt of cash in Excise Offices on account of motor taxes, registration and transfer of ownership fees of motor vehicles leading to overcharging or non-deposit of the same in the national kitty. 

Regarding tax refunds to the foreign companies, he had pointed out that since the foreign investors were undertaking only the high-return projects due to the security concerns in the country, they could not suffer business losses.

Similarly, he had also cited lack of proper assessment of domestic companies as well as favouritism in award of performance-related cash rewards, misuse of official vehicles and ministerial staff.

However, the report did not go well with the AJK Council, triggering off a series of vindictive actions against him, notwithstanding his unblemished service record.

Interestingly, the Council assigned its own officer for an inquiry into his report and not to the firms of chartered accountants as permitted by income and sales tax laws. 

Prior to that, on January 15, 2014, an FIR was lodged against Mr Ahmed by his ex-wife (divorced in 2009), alleging that he had sold her vehicle fraudulently in March 2008.

Mr Ahmed contended in the High Court that the FIR had been lodged with the connivance of some officers of his department, almost six years after the sale of the disputed vehicle and five years after he had divorced the complainant.

He also brought two cases of unusual favour given by the department to the siblings of his former wife besides referring to his report, following which the HC suspended the FIR on January 30, 2014. 

However, the Council placed Mr Ahmed under suspension on the basis of the in-operative FIR from February 2, 2014, the day he completed his senior management course from Karachi.

A Sessions Court where Mr Ahmed had applied for bail-before-arrest noted discrepancy in the complainant’s version and held on March 24 that prima facie the allegations against him were untrue.

However, two days after the said judgment, the Council set up its own “Fact Finding Committee” to probe the matter that was beyond its mandate.

The Committee did not hear Mr Ahmed and recommended action against him under the E&D Rules, 1973, on the grounds that he had “used his position for transfer of vehicle’s ownership.”

Interestingly, the ownership was transferred on September 17, 2008 when Mr Ahmed was in Netherland to pursue a professional course.

On being challenged, the AJK High Court set aside the notification of his suspension on May 22, 2014. However, in order to circumvent the HC order, the Council maintained that he had been suspended vide another notification issued “some 20 days ago on May 2, 2014.”

The second notification was also suspended by the HC on May 30, followed by an interim order on August 15 whereby the case was held in abeyance due to a sub judice review petition in AJK Supreme Court on the competence of Secretary, Kashmir Affairs to sack BS-19 officers.

The Council filed a Petition for Leave to Appeal (PLA) in the AJK Supreme Court against HC interim order, alleging that “Mr Ahmed was involved in a serious crime and was causing loss of revenue by passing vindictive orders as Commissioner (Appeals).”

As corruption charges were also levelled against him during verbal arguments, the Supreme Court held that the competent authority (PM Pakistan) could proceed against him under the law.

Based on the apex court order, the Council sought approval from the PM for disciplinary action against Mr Ahmed. The approval was granted, but with a condition that inquiry officer should not belong to the Council or the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.

On April 15, this year, the FIR against Mr Ahmed was also quashed by the senior civil judge, Muzaffarabad.  

Sources in AJK bureaucracy claimed that a group of corrupt officials in the Council, fearful of Mr Ahmed’s integrity, was bent upon thwarting his elevation as head of the department.

And there was credible evidence in support of their assertion.

In January 2012, the Council had issued a provisional seniority list of the IR officers, whereby Mr Ahmed was placed beneath Mirza Zulfiqar, in spite of the fact that the latter had worked under his direct subordination in 2007-08.

In August 2012, Mr Zulfiqar was given the charge of head of the department while in June 2014, a month before his retirement, the Council inducted Mohammad Waseem Altaf, an FBR official of BS-19, in the Department of IR on deputation as head of the department. 

Interestingly, Mr Altaf is one of those officers who were ignored for promotioin in BS-20, reportedly because the PM office did not receive a positive report about their integrity. They have challenged that decision in the Lahore High Court.  However, here in AJK he is holding the charge of both BS-20 posts of Commissioner IR and Commissioner Provincial Taxes, in contravention of the relevant rules.

When contacted by this scribe on telephone, Federal Secretary Shahidullah Baig said an inquiry into the matter was under process. 

“The Prime Minister has sought a panel of three officers from outside the Ministry of Kashmir affairs and the Council. The panel has been sent via Establishment Division,” he said.

To another question, he denied outright that the Council had anything to do with the family dispute of the official. 

“In fact its because of transfer of a vehicle. Papers have been sent to the PM office after consultation with the Law Division,” he said. 

When asked if Mr Ahmed was a dishonest officer, he said he could not give any statement about it before inquiry. 

When asked why the report by Mr Ahmed on alleged lapses in assessment and refund of taxes was not verified through external experts, he counter questioned: “Do you think all those sitting in the Council are dishonest?”

He then went on to claim that ever since his posting, he had saved Rs 330 million in the non-development budget. 

Mr Baig refused to take up more questions, saying he was in the middle of a meeting. 

It may be mentioned here that the AJK Council has mostly remained at the centre of allegations of embezzlement of the AJK taxpayers’ money through shady contacts.

 In one such case in January 2010, full advance payment of Rs 109 million was made by the Council to an obscure company, allegedly owned by the kin of the then federal secretary Kashmir affairs, for computerisation of the Department of IR, which has not been done to this day.

In June 2012, when the then Accountant General Tahir Mahmud Butt pointed out this and some other serious violations of codal formalities and applications of pre-audit checks in the multi-million deals of Council, arrest warrants of two officials were issued by the then AJK Ehtesab Bureau chairman Justice Hussain Mazhar Kaleem.

However, the Bureau was stopped from taking any action on those cases amid removal of Mr Kaleem from its chairmanship.

When Mr Baig was asked that why the culprits involved in automation scam were not punished, he claimed that an inquiry into this matter was also under process..... Tariq Naqash

PM Majeed returns to capital after one month, but only for two days

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed returned to the seat of his government late on Sunday after almost a month, in what has been the longest absence of the chief executive from the state capital.

However, he will not be here for too long, as he is again scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom on November 6 to “supervise” arrangements for a public meeting of PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on November 15.

Recently, the AJK premier had announced from UK that he would organise a “biggest ever public meeting in the Britain’s history” for Mr Bilawal in Birmingham.

The announcement was made by him in the wake of an unpleasant happening with the young PPP chairman at London’s “Kashmir Million March” on October 26. It is still unclear that who had invited Mr Bilawal at the event, which the organisers had repeatedly declared would remain apolitical and Kashmir centric.

It may be recalled that Mr Majeed had left Muzaffarabad on October 4 for Kashmir House Islamabad, cynically referred to as the de-facto capital of the AJK government.

From there, he drove to his hometown for a day to celebrate Eid ul Azha and returned to Kashmir House to stay there until October 9, missing the 9th anniversary function of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake in Muzaffarabad, to the chagrin of government officials, opposition and civil society.

 On October 9, Mr Majeed flew along with many of his cabinet colleagues to Karachi in connection with PPP’s October 18 public meeting where Mr Bilawal formally launched his political career in the country.

Mr Majeed and his cabinet members camped themselves in the provincial capital for ten days, notwithstanding criticism back home, only to remain in the good books of their party leadership.

He returned from Karachi on October 19 and after staying in Kashmir House over the next five days, flew to France on October 23.

The purpose of visit, according to an official notification, was to attend the book launch of ‘Benazir Papers’ by PPP Senator Jehangir Badar and “interact with Kashmiri Pakistani community and European parliamentarians in France, Belgium and UK.”

This time round, Mr Majeed missed the 67th anniversary of the foundation of AJK government in the state capital on October 24.

Interestingly, it was for the first time that not a single cabinet member was among the attendees of the police parade, which is the main event of the foundation day celebrations in Muzaffarabad.

From Paris, Mr Majeed came to London along with Mr Bilawal to attend “Million March” organised by Barrister Sultan Mahmood, his archrival within the ruling party. However, he remained largely unnoticed at the march, due to his unfriendly ties with Mr Mahmood, an open secret in AJK.

The prime minister returned to Pakistan on Monday and from there to Muzaffarabad late in the evening, but only for two days, which incidentally were holidays. He left for Islamabad on Tuesday morning. 

It was unclear whether the expenses of his upcoming tour would be met from state exchequer or from donations from the UK.

However, civil society was up in the arms against the absence of the chief executive and most of his cabinet members from the capital in the name of one or the other political activity.

“He has been elected to serve the AJK people. There is no justification for him to spend his time and the taxpayer’ money on activities that are of no benefit to us,” said Abdul Hafeez Azad, a civil society activist from Neelum valley.

University student Aamna Khan was more critical.

“This government has left the AJK people at the mercy of circumstances. When the prime minister is away for weeks and his cabinet members follow the suit the already dismal governance is bound to go to dogs,” she said. 

When asked, Shaukat Javed Mir, one of the spokespersons of Mr Majeed, justified his absence of “for being in connection with projection of Kashmir issue.”

“You see he has been busy in engagements that have highlighted Kashmir issue. The criticism is simply uncalled for,” he said.

Tariq Naqash