AJK PM challenges opponents, says PPP unmatched in political field

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Saturday threw a gauntlet to his opponents, saying they could not compete with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the field.

“There is a difference between politics on Facebook and politics in the field. They may compete on social media, but not in practical politics,” he said at a public gathering in Abbaspur, adding that his government was presenting its performance before the people and would face its rivals head-on in the next elections.

He said the PPP government had taken concrete steps to improve institutions across the state. “When I took over, the state was facing serious challenges, but we accepted them and worked with a clear vision and roadmap,” he said, adding that the government was not merely making announcements but ensuring their implementation.

Urging political forces to move beyond point-scoring, he said all stakeholders must work to safeguard people’s rights. “The PPP is a kingmaker and a symbol of the federation. We are the real stakeholders in Pakistan’s system,” he asserted.

The AJK premier claimed that his government had restored a conducive political environment in the state and revived the mission of public service. “We are coming back with greater strength and public support,” he said, adding that the PPP believed in practical welfare measures rather than rhetoric.

Mr Rathore maintained that major development projects in AJK’s history were largely initiated during PPP governments. “If you exclude the ten-and-a-half years of PPP rule, you will hardly find any mega project,” he claimed, citing universities, medical colleges and other major initiatives as the party’s achievements.

He said that within a short span, his government had revived development activities and restored public confidence at a time when politics in the region had nearly come to a standstill. “People welcomed us across the state even when it had become difficult for politicians to step out,” he said.

Claiming a strong electoral position, he said the PPP was currently well placed in all 33 constituencies and would return to power after winning the next elections.

Expressing pride in the armed forces, he said Pakistan had earned respect globally and was playing the role of a mediator on the world stage. “God has raised our stature with honour and, God willing, the Kashmir issue will also be resolved,” he added.

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AJK to frame agriculture policy after ‘successful’ Muzaffarabad moot

Director Amna Rafi briefs Prime Minister
Faisal Rathore at a department's stall during
the agriculture conference in Muzaffarabad.

Government officials in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday described the recently held agriculture conference as a “successful and outcome-oriented exercise,” saying it had helped identify key challenges faced by farmers and laid the groundwork for a comprehensive policy to revitalise the sector in the region.

The moot — organised by the departments of agriculture, livestock, irrigation and allied institutions on the premises of Muzaffarabad’s non-functional airport on Wednesday — brought together experts, researchers, policymakers and farmers from across the country, generating a set of practical recommendations for sustainable agricultural development.

Speaking at a post-conference briefing, Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock, Dairy Development and Irrigation Mirza Wajahat Rasheed Baig said the event highlighted that despite possessing significant natural potential, AJK’s agriculture sector remained underperforming due to fragmented landholdings, limited market access, outdated farming practices and vulnerability to climate change.

He was flanked by Director General Livestock and Dairy Development Dr Muhammad Ijaz Khan, Agriculture Department directors Amna Rafi, Zaffar Jehangir Awan, Mubashir Saif, Deputy Director Raja Zaheer Iqbal, publicity officer Sundas Saleem and others.

“It was the first exercise of such scale in many years in Azad Kashmir, held under the vision of Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. Officials at all levels worked with exceptional commitment to make it meaningful through expert input from diverse fields,” Mr Baig said.

Participants underscored the need to shift from subsistence farming to a more market-oriented and value-driven approach, supported by modern technologies, research and effective extension services, he added.

According to the secretary, one of the key takeaways was the urgent need for a unified and forward-looking agricultural policy, incorporating stakeholders’ input and aligning the sector with contemporary requirements.

He said experts stressed improved water management through efficient irrigation systems, including drip irrigation, to tackle increasing water scarcity caused by changing climatic patterns.

Highlighting discussions on horticulture, Mr Baig said nursery development and the availability of certified planting material were identified as critical for enhancing fruit production, particularly in mountainous areas, with public-private partnerships recommended to strengthen this segment and ensure better returns for farmers.

The conference also underscored the importance of diversifying into high-value crops such as tea, ginger, olive and soybean, as well as promoting value addition through processing of fruits, dairy products and other farm produce.

He said the conference also highlighted the considerable potential for tea cultivation in AJK, particularly in areas located at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 metres, including Neelum and Jhelum valleys. Tea, being a high-value long-term crop, could help reduce Pakistan’s substantial import bill while creating sustainable income opportunities for local farmers, he noted, adding that initial assessments suggested thousands of acres were suitable for its cultivation.

Livestock, being the backbone of the rural economy, also received special attention, with experts calling for disease control measures, vaccination campaigns and breed improvement to enhance productivity and market competitiveness, he said.

Mr Baig said capacity building, agricultural education and youth engagement were also highlighted as essential components of long-term sectoral growth, with suggestions to integrate practical agricultural training into academic curricula.

Referring to the participation of national and international experts, he said their input had enriched the discussions, particularly in areas such as dairy value addition, climate resilience and supply chain development.

He maintained that the recommendations emerging from the conference would be consolidated and presented to the government for incorporation into a comprehensive policy framework aimed at ensuring food security, increasing farmers’ incomes and promoting exports.

“The conference was not merely a ceremonial gathering but a serious consultative process. Its outcomes will guide future planning and help transform agriculture into a viable and sustainable economic sector in our state,” he said.

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PTI stages show of strength in Muzaffarabad, vows protest movement for Imran’s release

In an impressive show of strength in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Saturday lashed out at what they described as “political discrimination” in the country and vowed to continue a protest movement for the release of their incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.

The power show was held in Upper Adda, also known as Lal Chowk, where charged supporters from different parts of the territory gathered in large numbers, waving party, Kashmiri and Pakistani flags and chanting slogans in favour of Mr Khan. The turnout and enthusiasm were also acknowledged by several users on social media, including those affiliated with rival parties.

The rally, addressed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi as chief guest, was marked by fiery speeches and pledges to launch a protest movement for the former prime minister’s release. 

Mr Afridi, who waved the AJK flag from the stage to loud cheers, alleged that governments in both Pakistan and AJK had been “imposed” without a public mandate. 

Asking participants who they had voted for, he drew a thunderous response of “Imran Khan,” asserting that “Pakistan, too, voted for Imran Khan.”

With elections approaching, he warned of possible attempts to “steal the mandate” again and urged supporters not only to vote for Mr Khan but also to “protect that vote.” 

Recalling his announcement on the 19th that the next phase of PTI’s street movement would begin in Kashmir, he said he had come to Muzaffarabad in that connection. “Kashmiris have overwhelmingly responded to Imran Khan’s call, and I salute you all,” he added. 

He criticised the ruling setup in both Pakistan and AJK, alleging “undemocratic and unethical conduct,” and accused authorities of obstructing political activity, including blocking roads on the day of the rally. 

“…they did not treat their guest well, even though this is not in keeping with Kashmiri traditions,” he said. 

“The bond between the tribal people and Kashmiris is longstanding, not new. The rude behaviour of those in power cannot create rifts in this relationship.” 

Mr Afridi asserted that Imran Khan had presented the case of Kashmir, Pakistan and Palestine at international forums and was now “unjustly imprisoned” along with his wife Bushra Bibi. He claimed that despite losing hope in the courts following the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, Mr Khan believed that the people of Pakistan and Kashmir would continue his struggle. 

He said he had been pursuing all constitutional, legal and democratic avenues, but without result. “As many as three judges have granted me permission to meet my leader, but the superintendent of Adiala Jail tears up those orders and throws them into the dustbin,” he alleged. 

Referring to an appearance at the Islamabad High Court, he claimed that despite waiting for two hours during Ramazan, the chief justice did not even acknowledge his greeting. 

“For the sake of Pakistan, I am putting my political capital at stake — attending meetings and engaging with stakeholders to press for an end to political discrimination, an independent judiciary and genuine electoral outcomes,” he said, adding that the will of the voters must be reflected in the ballot. 

Warning against curbs on political rights, he said: “If our rights are usurped, we will come out and protest — the Constitution allows us to do so.” 

He announced that a “major protest call” would soon be given, expressing confidence that people across the country would respond and help secure Mr Khan’s release. 

Earlier, former AJK premier and PTI’s regional president Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi said Kashmiris had always stood with Imran Khan and would respond to every protest call. He also alleged that hurdles were being created in the party’s registration for upcoming elections and demanded that PTI be allowed to participate freely. 

He expressed support for the demands of the Joint Awami Action Committee and called for the implementation of agreements reached with it. 

The rally was also addressed by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and other party leaders. 

Later, Mr Afridi administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers of Muzaffarabad’s Central Bar Association at the Judicial Complex, where he reiterated largely the same views in his address to bar members. 

He urged lawyers to be an active part of the movement to restore true democracy in the country.  

Earlier, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Naeem Haider Panjutha, newly elected bar president Raja Zaigham Iftikhar, secretary general Murtaza Ahmad Mir and other speakers also addressed the ceremony.

 

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Son retracts suicide threat over father’s political switch, sparks debate on tolerance in AJK

A young political activist in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) triggered widespread concern and debate after publicly threatening to take his own life over his father’s reported defection to a rival party, before later retracting the threat following appeals from social media users.

The late-night Facebook post, uploaded around 8:30pm on Friday from Nallah Chakli village in Jhelum Valley district, quickly went viral, drawing an outpouring of concern, advice and criticism.

“I, Amanullah Khan, warn my father Khateeb Ullah Khan and family members that if my father joins Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz tomorrow, I will commit suicide by jumping into River Jhelum,” the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activist wrote.

In an emotionally charged follow-up, he added: “If he goes to Hattian Bala to join PML-N, he will return with my coffin. There is Pashtun blood in me as well; if he does not listen to me, I will persist until I have my way.”

The post surfaced amid reports that his father, Khateeb Ullah Khan — PTI president for LA-32 (Muzaffarabad-VI) — was set to switch allegiance to PML-N on Saturday in the presence of senior leader and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider.

The father, however, dismissed the post with disbelief, suggesting his son had been influenced or coerced.

“I am in Muzaffarabad and know who has been decoying Amanullah… someone has abducted him and is uploading such posts from his mobile,” he claimed on his private social media account, insisting that his educated son could not have acted independently in such a manner.

As the post gained traction, social media turned into a space of collective intervention, with more than a hundred users urging the young man to step back and respect political differences within the family.

“A truly brave person stands firm with courage in difficult times. Let your father make his own political choice; you should continue your own politics. Decisions should not be driven by emotions,” wrote Sardar Zaheer Abbasi in a comment that was shared by many other users.

Others framed the issue as a test of democratic maturity.

“In a democracy, it is normal for family members to belong to different parties,” said Raja Waqar Ahmed of the Muslim Conference. “You should respect each other’s choices and avoid such drastic steps.”

Despite the growing concern, the father remained firm in his decision to switch parties.

“Even if the funeral of my son is held, I will announce my joining the PML-N. I won’t allow the burial of such a disobedient [son] in our native graveyard. I will take action against those responsible,” he wrote at around 10:30pm.

However, shortly after midnight, the situation took a dramatic turn when Amanullah Khan deleted his earlier post and issued a new statement, backing away from his threat.

“I have received so many calls from brothers and friends [saying] that one should not take such a step in politics, due to which I have cancelled my plans [of suicide], but I will stay in the PTI,” he wrote.

The updated post also drew significant engagement, with users welcoming his decision and urging reconciliation within the family.

“Good. It’s the principle of democracy to support or vote for a person of your choice. You too should adopt a democratic approach. The way you have the right to join a party of your choice, others too have a similar right,” commented Nasir Mahmood Butt.

Many also advised him to seek forgiveness from his father and prioritise familial respect.

“Son, thanks for listening to us. Respect for parents is the foremost obligation. From today, I announce to join PTI with you. Hope you are happy now,” wrote Khan Masood, a Dubai-based doctor, according to his profile.

On Saturday, Khateebullah Khan formally quit PTI and joined PML-N at a well-attended function in Hattian Bala. Mr Haider, who was in attendance, welcomed his decision. 

The incident, though rooted in a single family’s discord, underscored a deeper question confronting society: how far should political allegiance be allowed to intrude into the most intimate of human relationships.

Retired educationist Prof Shaukat Rasool Pandit said the episode should serve as a wake-up call for society.

“Political differences are natural in a democracy, but turning them into matters of life and death reflects a dangerous erosion of tolerance,” he said, urging families and community leaders to foster patience, respect and restraint, particularly among the younger generation.

Psychiatrist Dr Hamid Rashid Khawaja echoed his views.

“When political identity begins to override family bonds, it signals a deeper crisis of emotional regulation and tolerance,” he said, adding that public threats of self-harm should always be taken seriously but not normalised as a form of expression.

He stressed the need to promote dialogue within families and to teach young people how to manage disagreement without resorting to extremes.

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Beyond Authority: AJK’s governance debate finds voice in new boo

At a time when questions of institutional credibility, administrative efficiency and public accountability increasingly shaped political discourse in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a newly launched book sought to shift the conversation from routine governance to reflective statecraft. 

Titled “Governance and Government,” the book by Chaudhry Imtiaz Ahmad, currently serving as Secretary of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), was launched at the Kashmir Institute of Management (KIM) before an audience comprising senior civil servants, academics and students of public policy.

Yet the ceremony appeared less a formal unveiling and more a deliberative forum on how power is exercised — and how it ought to be restrained. 

Speaking as the chief guest, AJK Minister for Kashmir Cause, Arts and Languages Nabeela Ayoub Khan framed governance not merely as an administrative function but as a moral responsibility. She observed that durable development depended upon strong institutions, rule of law and evidence-based policymaking — principles that, she noted, required constant reinforcement in evolving democracies. 

Her remarks subtly echoed a broader concern: that traditional bureaucratic authority, if not tempered with transparency and participation, risked losing public trust. It was precisely this tension that the book attempted to unpack.

 

From “Government” to “Governance”

 

In his address, author Ahmad, who had earned a master’s degree in International Development Management from the UK, described governance as an expanding concept extending beyond the machinery of the state. He noted that while ‘government’ denoted formal structures of authority, ‘governance’ encompassed processes, networks and citizen engagement, determining how decisions were made and implemented.

Speakers at the event — including former Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Fayyaz Ali Abbasi, Secretary Law Dr Muhammad Idrees Abbasi, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Implementation and Inspection Commission Hassan Ashraf, and KIM Director General Dr Muqeem-ul-Islam — described the work as an attempt to bridge academic theory with lived administrative realities.

They argued that in regions such as AJK, where governance structures operated within a unique constitutional and political framework, reform had to be context-sensitive rather than derivative.

Mr Abbasi remarked that imported models of public administration often faltered when local institutional capacities and socio-political realities were ignored.

 

Reforms, rights and resources

 

Spread across, six chapters, the book moves through global development benchmarks, rights-based governance and fiscal accountability. It revisits the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Pakistan’s trajectory under them, situating AJK within broader development conversations.

Particular attention has been paid to the compatibility of human rights and policing — a theme resonating in societies negotiating the balance between security and civil liberties. The author also examines right to information (RTI) laws as instruments of transparency and anti-corruption, arguing that disclosure regimes can reshape administrative culture when backed by political will.

Another significant focus is decentralisation. Drawing upon examples from AJK’s local governance structures, the book analyses whether devolution has meaningfully improved service delivery or merely redistributed authority without enhancing accountability.

In perhaps its most region-specific intervention, the publication reviews the allocation and utilisation of AJK’s education budget, offering policy recommendations. 

Participants observed that fiscal discipline and targeted expenditure remained critical to improving public sector performance.

 

Filling a scholarly gap

 

Speakers at the event were of the view that while AJK’s political history had been widely debated, scholarly engagement with its governance architecture remained limited. In this context, they noted that hardly any publication had attempted a systematic study of administrative reforms in the territory over the past two decades. 

In that sense, the book represented more than a bureaucrat’s intellectual exercise; it could mark the beginning of a more structured policy discourse within AJK’s academic and administrative circles, they said. 

Since the gathering reflected a rare convergence of serving officials, retired administrators and students, it turned into an intergenerational dialogue underscoring governance as a continuum rather than a fixed model. 

They described the publication as a valuable reference for civil servants, policymakers, researchers, and students committed to strengthening institutional performance in the state.

 

Governance as conversation

 

The ceremony concluded formally, but the debate it sparked lingered in the hallways of KIM. Governance was no longer discussed solely as a technical matter of files and notifications, but as a dynamic interaction between state institutions and the citizens they served.

Whether the ideas articulated in the book would translate into tangible reforms remained to be seen. Yet its emergence signalled an acknowledgment that the legitimacy of authority in AJK — as elsewhere — increasingly depended not on control, but on credibility.

 

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Imported wheat supplied to AJK ‘unfit for consumption’; Shehbaz urged to intervene

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene over the continued supply of imported wheat allegedly declared unfit for human consumption, warning that the situation could trigger public unrest in the region. 

Official sources told this scribe the other day that the AJK authorities had conveyed serious concern to the federal government over the quality of imported wheat being supplied through the Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (Passco), and sought its immediate replacement with locally produced wheat of fair average quality (FAQ) standard.

 

AJK procures around 300,000 tonnes of wheat annually to meet its food security requirements. Under a 2023 decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), Passco has since been supplying wheat to AJK in a 50:50 ratio of indigenous and imported stocks — unlike Gilgit-Baltistan, which receives 75 per cent local and 25pc imported wheat.

 

According to AJK officials, the imported wheat — procured in 2022 by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) from Ukraine — has exceeded its prescribed shelf life and developed an unpleasant odour. Laboratory assessments conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) reportedly found that the commodity did not meet food safety standards.

 

Officials maintained that flour milled entirely from the imported wheat was unsafe for human consumption. As a temporary measure, the AJK Food Department had been blending imported stocks with local wheat to maintain minimum quality standards.

 

Despite repeated representations to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) and Passco over the past three years, officials said no remedial action had been taken. They alleged that even comparatively better imported stocks recently put up for auction at certain Passco centres were not allocated to AJK.

 

Authorities warned that wheat reserves in the region were running low and that unless allocations were shifted entirely to indigenous FAQ wheat, the Food Department could struggle to ensure uninterrupted flour supply. They cautioned that deteriorating flour quality had already led to public complaints and protests, and feared the unrest could intensify if the issue remained unresolved.

 

In view of what officials described as a “sensitive situation” in the region, the AJK government had requested the prime minister’s immediate intervention to ensure 100pc supply of locally produced wheat to the territory ahead of the next consumption cycle.

 

Joint opposition claims PPP has lost majority in AJK Assembly

The combined opposition in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Wednesday accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government of losing its majority and warned it would resist any attempt to derail the upcoming elections. 

Addressing a press conference at the Central Press Club, leaders of the opposition alliance — comprising the Pakistan Muslim League (N), the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its dissidents — alleged that the government was evading constitutional accountability within the assembly. 

PML-N regional president and Leader of the Opposition Shah Ghulam Qadir said a requisitioned session of the house, convened by the opposition, was abruptly adjourned despite quorum and agenda items. 

“We ensured quorum. With business on the agenda, the sudden adjournment was incomprehensible,” he said, adding that at one stage only one minister was present to respond to questions. 

The session was prorogued before calling attention notices and resolutions could be taken up, prompting the opposition to pass what he described as an unprecedented resolution of condemnation against the government. 

Mr Qadir claimed the PPP no longer commanded a majority in the house and accused it of making hasty appointments and distributing discretionary posts arbitrarily. Political advisers, he alleged, were being posted in the Kashmir Liberation Cell instead of subject experts. 

Warning the government against what he termed complacency, he said: “If the PPP does not mend its ways, it will not take long to move a no-confidence motion. If they are under any illusion, they should disabuse themselves of it.” 

However, he added that with elections approaching, the opposition did not wish to destabilise the system and would act within constitutional bounds. “The government will act, and we will react,” he said, making it clear that the opposition would not allow the assembly’s term to be extended “even by a single day.”

Referring to the Supreme Court’s restoration of the Third Party Act, he alleged that appointments were still being made without due process, including tests and interviews. 

Former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider termed the present arrangement a deviation from what was initially agreed as a temporary set-up. He alleged that budgetary changes were being made without assembly approval and warned that the prime minister was “walking a tightrope.”

“A party without a majority should refrain from actions that create new crises,” he said, claiming that even some treasury members had privately admitted their numerical weakness. 

He criticised the alleged revengeful transfers and said the government’s conduct risked undermining the electoral process. “If another system is imposed, nothing will remain,” he warned. 

Former premier Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said improved governance was key to stability and urged political forces to prevent any slide into instability. 

He recalled that during his tenure, unrest had been fomented in the name of rights, and claimed that the narrative faded after his government’s removal. He said power had been transferred peacefully in line with his wishes and that no further adventurism should be tolerated. 

“It is the opposition’s job to ask questions and the government’s duty to answer them. When you flee accountability in the assembly, who will prevent anarchy on the streets?” he asked. 

Mr Haq warned the government against any step outside the constitutional framework and said continued “non-seriousness” would only deepen the crisis. “The only achievement of this government in 90 days is that it has brought the entire opposition onto one platform,” he remarked. 

He maintained that despite having the numbers for a no-confidence move, the opposition preferred continuity of the constitutional order. A fresh requisition for a new assembly session had been submitted. 

Addressing the government, he said: "When you evade accountability in the assemblies, how can you stop anarchy on the roads?" 

Interestingly, when asked why he himself had not ensured stronger parliamentary accountability during his own tenure — despite episodes of street unrest — he did not offer a clear response.

End