'Safe Tourism' app introduced in AJK's Neelum Valley

In a bid to promote safe tourism and ensure the safety of visitors, the administration in the breathtaking Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has launched an internet application alongside policy guidelines for the tourism sector.

    The app, developed in collaboration with the AJK Information Technology (IT) Board, aims to keep the administration updated on tourist accommodations, contact details, and itineraries, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Neelum, Nadeem Ahmed Janjua, told this scribe on Thursday.

    Last year, the valley, which boasts a 150-kilometre main road stretching from Nauseri to the scenic village of Taobutt along the Neelum River, welcomed over 550,000 tourists from across the country, Mr Janjua shared.

    "With 40 link roads and 8–10 fair-weather roads connecting the valley’s population of 220,000 to their homes, accessibility is both a challenge and a blessing," he added.

    Highlighting safety concerns, Mr Janjua pointed out that the valley, like other high-altitude regions, was prone to natural disasters such as cloudburst-induced floods, avalanches, and landslides. 

    These hazards, combined with the challenging mountainous terrain, often led to fatal accidents, particularly among tourists unfamiliar with local road conditions, he said.

    Additionally, he pointed out that incidents like selfie-related falls and tragedies caused by negligence, such as leaving gas or coal heaters running, had underscored the need for stricter safety protocols. 

    "In such unfortunate situations, it becomes difficult for the administration to contact the victims' families promptly, which is why the app is a game-changer for us," he asserted.

    Mr Janjua informed that earlier in the day, a meeting with representatives of the local Guesthouse and Hotel Association had been convened to brief them on the app's utility and operational requirements.

    “It was decided that comprehensive data of tourists staying in the valley would be recorded through the app. In areas where internet access is unavailable, this information will be communicated via phone to the local police station, which will transfer it to a pro forma and ensure its submission to the Superintendent of Police's office by 1 pm daily,” he said.

    The DC also elaborated on the safety measures mandated by the administration. 

    He said the newly inaugurated rest houses, guesthouses, and hotels were required to install fire extinguishers and emergency exits.

    “Management is also directed to discourage guests from approaching dangerous water channels and to prominently display advisory notices and emergency contact numbers in every room.”

    For tourists venturing to high-altitude destinations such as Ratti Gali, Patlian, and Baboon, only well-maintained vehicles operated by licensed drivers would be allowed, he said, adding that registered tour operators had been instructed to comply with this requirement without exception.

    Moreover, hotel management must ensure that gas or coal heaters were switched off by 11pm to prevent accidents caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, he said. 

    Mr Janjua vowed that the administration would ensure 100% implementation of these guidelines and warned that strict legal action would be taken against violators. 

    “The safety of tourists and the preservation of Neelum Valley's reputation as a safe destination are our utmost priorities,” he said.

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AJK PM orders high alert as pregnant woman’s death sparks outcry in snowbound Neelum

People gather to offer the funeral prayers of a pregnant
 woman in Taobutt Bala village of Neelum valley on Sunday. 

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Sunday directed the administration to remain on high alert amid harsh winter conditions in upper Neelum Valley, following the tragic death of a pregnant woman blamed on limited healthcare access.  

According to an official press release, in light of the prime minister's directives, divisional commissioner Masoodur Rehman had urgently departed for the valley along with senior officers from various divisional departments.

Reports from Neelum valley said a 21-year-old woman from Taobutt Bala, the valley’s last village, died Saturday night while being carried on foot to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Kel. 

Her family blamed the death on blocked roads and inadequate health facilities.  

Kel is 156 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, with Taobutt another 45 kilometers ahead. The area, known as Gurez sub-valley, is frequently cut off in winter due to heavy snowfall.  

Local journalist Hayat Awan told this scribe that the woman’s relatives and neighbours protested by placing her body on the snow, accusing the government of negligence. 

Videos circulating online showed a local bearded leader addressing mourners, saying, “The state’s negligence pushed this woman to her death.” 

He maintained that the snowfall this year was not severe enough to justify the failure to keep roads open.  

However, when contacted by this scribe, Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Ahmed Janjua clarified that temperatures had plummeted to -15°C, causing parts of the Neelum River to freeze and making road clearance exceptionally difficult.  

“Continuous snowfall and frost make the main artery and link roads impassable. Even heavy machinery struggles in these conditions,” he said, sharing a video of a snowplow stuck on an icy road.  

Mr Janjua said road crews had managed to clear the route up to Kareemabad, just 4 kilometres from Taobutt, “marking a first in the valley’s history in such extreme weather.” 

However, he noted that overnight frost often turned cleared roads into slippery, glass-like surfaces.  

He dismissed claims of inadequate healthcare, stating that upper Neelum had several health facilities, including a THQ Hospital equipped with specialist doctors, gynaecologists, and medicines. Additionally, the Pakistan Army also operated health facilities in the area.  

He said the administration had pre-stocked six months’ worth of flour and seven months’ worth of medicines in anticipation of winter. Despite severe weather, telecommunications and health centres remained operational, and private traders had stocked essential items for the season.  

He said the prime minister was personally taking feedback about the progress with regard to his directives. 

Mr Janjua
urged critics to acknowledge efforts alongside raising concerns, keeping in view the challenges posed by the region’s extreme climate.

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Public urged to avoid food items cooked in waste oil

The Food Authority of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has discarded over 450 litres of waste cooking oil (WCO) and imposed fines amounting to Rs 195,500 on unscrupulous vendors over the past three days, an official said on Thursday.

    Waste cooking oil, also referred to as used cooking oil (UCO), is edible oil that has been repeatedly heated for cooking or frying, rendering it unsuitable for consumption due to degradation and potential health risks.

    Abdul Hameed Kiani, Director of the AJK Food Department and ex-officio Secretary of the AJK Food Authority, said in a press release that the oil used in the preparation of fried items across various districts was tested using recently acquired Oil Testometres.

    He urged the public to avoid food cooked in substandard or repeatedly heated oil, because of the constant warnings by health experts that such oil was a leading cause of heart and liver diseases.

    “There is an urgent need for the public to adopt the principle of ‘prevention is better than cure’ by refraining from consuming unhealthy and dubious food items,” he said.

    Mr Kiani said that food safety officers had been directed to conduct regular testing of key food items, particularly milk, oil, and spices. 

"In cases where items are found harmful to health, strict actions must be taken without discrimination. This includes discarding such items and imposing penalties or initiating legal action against the traders and vendors involved," he added.

    He informed that the government had provided state-of-the-art tools, such as Digital Refractometers, PH Meters, Arsenic Kits, Milk Analysers, TDS Meters, Oil Testometres, and Food Adulteration Kits at the mobile food testing laboratories at three divisional headquarters, which were raised in compliance with directives from the AJK Supreme Court. 

     “Our teams are regularly using these advanced tools to inspect hotels, banquet halls, milk shops, filtration plants, and other establishments across all districts to ensure compliance with food safety regulations,” Mr Kiani said.

    He asserted that the Food Authority’s intensified efforts to safeguard public health by curbing the sale and use of harmful food products across the region had started making their mark. 

    “The strict actions taken, including the dumping of substandard items and the imposition of hefty fines, have instilled a sense of accountability and deterrence among those who previously engaged in the trade of counterfeit and harmful food items with impunity,” he said.

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India warned against LoC crossing by AJK people

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, on Thursday warned India that if human rights violations and state terrorism in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK) did not cease, people from his side might be compelled to cross the Line of Control (LoC).

"The whole world knows that the movement in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is for the right to self-determination and will continue until it reaches its logical conclusion," he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 3.2-megawatt Cham Fall Hydropower Station in Jhelum Valley district, near the LoC.

He maintained that AJK was not just about its population or geographical area but served as the base camp for the Kashmir freedom movement, which defined its very purpose. 

Continuing, he said, unlike IoJK, where puppet chief ministers were installed, AJK was governed by representatives chosen by its people. 

"The governance system in Azad Kashmir owes its existence to the sacrifices of the mothers and sisters in occupied Kashmir."

"In Azad Kashmir, we enjoy civil liberties and facilities, which are possible because the people of Pakistan have shared their resources, sometimes at great personal cost, with their brothers in the liberated territory," he added.  

He invited international observers to visit AJK and challenged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the same for IoJK. 

"Let the world see the stark difference between the liberated and occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir," he remarked.  

Expressing gratitude to Pakistan's political leadership and armed forces for supporting the Kashmiri people for more than seven decades, he regretted that “some blind to reason could not differentiate between protector forces and occupying forces." 

The AJK premier also criticized the Indian army chief and India’s defence minister for making derogatory remarks about him, calling it a clear sign of their frustration. 

On the development front, he announced that Jhelum Valley district would become self-sufficient in electricity by June, a highly encouraging milestone. 

However, he cautioned that if electricity bills were not paid on time, the Power Development Organization (PDO) would face setbacks.  

"Affordable electricity is the biggest source of employment. When the electricity needs are met, it will boost cottage industries and promote tourism in the region," he said.  

He also announced the allocation of Rs 200 million required for the timely commissioning of the nearbyNardajjian power project.  

Reiterating his government’s priorities, he vowed that the Kashmir freedom struggle and the development of AJK were at the top of his agenda.  

Without naming anyone, he took aim at certain "political showmen," and remarked that "small-time players” with their petty tricks could not halt the journey of development.  

He asserted that since assuming office, he had not indulged in clan-based favouritism or regional bias, unlike the past, where the entire budget of AJK was spent on a single constituency. 

"Now that mafias are being reined in, their screams are loud. But remember, everyone will have to go through the accountability process," he warned.  

The AJK premier also announced a one-month bonus salary for all workers involved in the PDO project.

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PML-N suspends five cabinet members from party positions in AJK

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday suspended five members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, currently serving ministerial roles in the coalition government, from their party positions over disciplinary violations. 

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of regional office-bearers and ticket holders, chaired by PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir.

The PML-N holds eight seats in the AJK Assembly, with four members elected from constituencies in AJK, three from refugee constituencies in Pakistan, and one female member nominated on a reserved seat. 

Among them, the regional president Qadir, former premier Raja Farooq Haider, and Chaudhry Ismail are not part of the government. Of the remaining five members, four are ministers and one advisor with ministerial status.

Party workers have long voiced concerns over the PML-N’s participation in the coalition government, fearing it could negatively impact their electoral prospects. 

This sentiment has fueled persistent calls for withdrawing from the coalition, with Mr Haider leading the charge and Mr Qadir also expressing similar reservations.

However, ministers Waqar Ahmed Noor, Sardar Aamir Altaf, Raja Muhammad Siddique, Ahmad Raza Qadri, and advisor Nisara Abbasi have resisted such calls. 

Recently, they wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting his intervention to allow them to continue their roles in the cabinet. They alleged that internal rifts within the party, rather than their cabinet positions, were the primary cause of the party’s struggles.

The letter, notably not addressed or copied to party supremo Nawaz Sharif, drew sharp criticism from workers on social media. 

All five cabinet members avoided Wednesday’s meeting. However, Mr Ismail, who had also signed the letter to PM Sharif, was in attendance and offered an emotional apology, which was accepted.

The meeting involved extensive discussions on various issues, including the potential withdrawal from the coalition government. 

During the meeting, Mr Qadir and Mr Haider publicly disassociated themselves from the government as members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). They also criticized the controversial contents of the letter sent to PM Sharif and the absence of the ministers from the meeting, deeming it a violation of party discipline.

Following the deliberations, Mr Qadri was suspended from his positions as vice president and member of the central working committee. Mr Noor, Mr Altaf, Mr Siddique, and Ms Abbasi were also removed from the central working committee. 

Exercising his authority, Mr Qadir approved the formation of a five-member disciplinary committee and decided to issue show-cause notices to the ministers within seven days.

Meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif

Earlier in the day, the six signatories of the letter and Mr Qadir, Mr Haider, Mr Farooq, and Mr Minhas attended a 30-minute meeting on party affairs with Prime Minister Sharif at his office. 

According to a participant, the prime minister listened to both sides and said that, since this was a party matter, he would consult the relevant leadership and convene another meeting within ten days to announce a decision.

Mr Qadir shared the details of this meeting with attendees at the subsequent party gathering.

 “We informed the prime minister about the poor performance of the coalition government, injustices toward PML-N workers, and the deteriorating state of law and order and ideological direction in AJK,” he said. 

“The PML-N cannot continue to bear the burden of the coalition’s failures.”

In his address, Mr Haider dismissed rumors of division within the party and affirmed his support for Mr Qadir. 

“Workers should mobilize in their constituencies to strengthen the party. The PML-N will contest the next elections with full force,” he declared.

Mr Farooq encouraged party members to stay hopeful and maintain close contact with the leadership. 

“We will resume the journey of development and rectify the ideological damage caused during this tenure,” he asserted.

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Parking and traffic issues in Muzaffarabad’s historic commercial hub addressed

In a bid to resolve the persistent parking and traffic woes in Madina Market, the busiest and historic commercial hub of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital, civic authorities have banned the entry of vehicles into the market and established a parking lot on the vacant land that once housed a Radio Colony.

    Additionally, several measures are also being taken to facilitate shoppers and residents, including the removal of encroachments and the establishment of public restrooms in shopping plazas, said Masoodur Rehman, divisional commissioner of Muzaffarabad.  

Speaking to journalists in his office on Tuesday, he said that inadequate parking facilities and severe traffic congestion, particularly in the old part of the capital, had long been a major concern for residents.

In keeping with the situation, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq had issued strict directives to urgently address these issues and implement additional measures to enhance the sprawling town’s overall appearance, he added. 

  

The commissioner said the Radio Colony site, left unused after its residential quarters were razed in the 2005 earthquake, had now been repurposed into a parking lot with the support and cooperation of the management of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC).

 

“We are grateful to the PBC officials for their commendable role in resolving this major issue in the city,” he said.   

Mr Rehman said a shuttle service had also been planned, operating between CMH Road and Hamam Wali Masjid, to assist shoppers navigating the sprawling market, which had expanded from a few shops in one street to multiple adjacent streets, housing hundreds of shops offering diverse goods, including Kashmiri art and crafts.  

For permanent residents of the market’s neighbourhood, vehicle entry would be permitted on a scheduled basis, he said. 

“All permanent residents will be issued passes, and only those with valid passes will be allowed to bring their vehicles inside,” the commissioner said.  

To address the widespread encroachments in Madina Market and other neighbourhoods, notices had been issued to traders, directing them to voluntarily remove unauthorised structures by a specified deadline. 

“After the deadline, a phased operation against encroachments will be launched across the city,” he warned.  

“No one will be allowed to extend platforms or awnings beyond their shop shutters,” he added.  

The commissioner further informed that parking on both sides of CMH Road had also been strictly prohibited to alleviate the severe traffic jams. 

“Illegally parked vehicles will not only be removed by tow trucks but cases will also be registered against violators,” he declared. 

He said that plaza owners in Madina Market and other parts of the city had been instructed to ensure compliance with approved building plans by providing parking spaces and public restrooms within their premises. 

“Failure to comply will result in strict action, including the sealing of non-compliant buildings, without exception,” he added. 

The commissioner urged citizens and traders to cooperate with the administration and municipal institutions to effectively tackle these pressing issues. 

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At 12th Judicial Conference, President Mahmood calls for balance among state pillars

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mahmood has stressed that judiciary, legislature, and executive must maintain a system of mutual checks and balances under the principle of trichotomy of powers to lay the foundation of a democratic and welfare state.

Whenever any of these three pillars of state overstepped its limits, the result was anarchy and chaos,” he said in his address as chief guest at the 12th Judicial Conference.

Titled "Dispensation of Justice: Modern Requirements and Challenges," the conference was organised under the auspices of the AJK High Court on Tuesday.  

Before the president's address, Chief Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja and Justice Mian Arif Hussain delivered keynote speeches, providing an overview of the judiciary's performance, achievements, and the challenges it faced.

Advocate General Sheikh Masood Iqbal, Law Secretary Waheed-ul-Hassan Shahid, AJK Bar Council’s Vice Chairman Syed Ashfaq Hussain Kazmi, President of the AJK Supreme Court Bar Association Javed Najam-us-Saqib, President of the AJK High Court Bar Association Khalid Bashir Mughal, and others also addressed the event, attended by a large audience, primarily from the legal fraternity.

During a briefing on the four-year performance report, additional registrar Riaz Shafi informed attendees that as of January 2020, the High Court had a backlog of 9,237 cases. Between 2020 and 2024, 46,349 new cases were filed, bringing the total number of cases under adjudication during this period to 55,586.

Of these, 38,560 cases were resolved, leaving 17,026 cases pending at the end of 2024 across the High Court headquarters and circuit benches.

Similarly, in the district courts of AJK, 41,215 cases were pending as of January 2020. Between 2020 and 2024, 278,808 new cases were filed, bringing the total to 320,023 cases under adjudication. Of these, 276,171 cases were resolved, leaving 43,852 cases pending in the district courts by the end of 2024.

The president maintained that in a welfare state, the judiciary's primary role was to protect citizens' fundamental rights, particularly when these rights were threatened by legislative or executive actions.

“Initially, it is the legislature’s responsibility to legislate in accordance with public rights, while the judiciary ensures the protection of individual rights at subsequent stages,” he said.

He vowed that all resources of the state would be utilised to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, law, and justice so that their benefits reached the common person.

President Mahmood praised the AJK judiciary’s history, saying it was adorned with landmark decisions made in the public interest and in adherence to fundamental legal principles.

According to him, the integrity of AJK judges was recognized and respected even among lawyers and judges in Pakistan.

“It is our duty to maintain this glorious tradition, ensuring that current and future judges preserve this esteemed legacy,” he said.

The president stressed the need to automate judicial records and proceedings to address issues such as unnecessary adjournments, repeated appearances of witnesses, delays in case hearings, and to ensure merit-based case fixation.

He commended the high court chief justice for initiating this process and expressed hope that AJK’s judiciary would soon surpass the judicial systems of Pakistan’s provinces in this domain.

The AJK president also called for refresher courses for lawyers to familiarize them with modern jurisprudence and technological advancements.

Apart from that, modernisation of the prosecution service was also the need of the hour, particularly in criminal cases, to enhance the judicial system’s overall effectiveness, he said. 

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