AJK premier praises Baku’s support to Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir

          Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has praised Azerbaijan for its consistent support to Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute, describing the issue as the unfinished agenda of the partition of the subcontinent. 

In an interview with an Azerbaijani broadcaster on Wednesday, he also showered praise on the people and government of Pakistan for always staying by the Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control. 

According to an official handout, the prime minister highlighted persistent Indian repression of Kashmiris’ political and human rights and said the international community could no longer ignore the situation in the region. 

Referring to the policies of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, he said that New Delhi had intensified measures aimed at dismantling the distinct identity of Kashmiris. 

Mr Rathore also lauded Pakistan’s armed forces for safeguarding AJK from external aggression and warned that failure to resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute could threaten regional peace and stability. 

He called upon the international community to hold India accountable for alleged human rights violations committed by its forces in occupied Kashmir. 

Referring to Islamabad-Baku relations, the AJK premier said Azerbaijan, alongside China and Turkey, remained one of Pakistan’s closest allies and a strong supporter of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. 

Paying tribute to Benazir Bhutto, he described her as a global symbol of democracy who sacrificed her life for democratic ideals. 

He said Ms Bhutto deeply valued Azerbaijan’s democratic progress following its independence from the Soviet Union and had enjoyed cordial relations with Heydar Aliyev based on democratic values and economic cooperation. 

The AJK premier also commended Azerbaijan’s development and resilience despite the challenges it faced during the post-independence period.

Tariq Naqash

Political rhetoric heats up in AJK as PML-N accuses PPP of seeking delay in polls

With elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) drawing closer and political rhetoric beginning to intensify, leader of the opposition and regional president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N AJK chapter Shah Ghulam Qadir on Wednesday accused the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of attempting to evade the electoral process by backing calls for the postponement of polls through the Joint Awami Action Committee. 

Addressing a public gathering in Dhamni on the outskirts of Rawalakot, organised in connection with the joining of former divisional director of the education department Dr Rashida Khanam and her supporters into the PML-N, Mr Qadir said authority to make decisions could not be handed over to “mob groups” and vowed that his party would never become part of any conspiracy aimed at weakening the state. 

In an apparent reference to demands linked to refugee seats and election scheduling, he alleged that the PPP was trying to escape elections by “using the Action Committee as a shoulder for its agenda”, which, according to him, reflected the ruling party’s “defeated mindset”. 

“This is perhaps the first ruling party that is running away from elections, but the Muslim League will not allow it to escape,” he said. 

“Whoever is fond of politics should test their popularity through elections and learn the realities of governance.” 

In a strongly worded speech reflecting the sharpening political divide ahead of the expected announcement of the election schedule, Mr Qadir also accused the PPP of conspiring against the existing system. 

Referring to the party’s political history, he alleged that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had raised the slogan of “Idhar Hum, Udhar Tum”, which, according to him, had contributed to the division of Pakistan, and claimed that the PPP was once again pursuing a “formula for the division of Kashmir”. 

“This mischief is a conspiracy against the system, but we have full confidence in our intentions and leadership, and the PML-N will foil all such conspiracies,” he said. 

Rejecting what he described as baseless propaganda about weakening pro-Pakistan sentiment in Poonch, Mr Qadir said the region was “the land of martyrs and veterans” whose people had rendered sacrifices for the ideology of Pakistan. 

“The people of Poonch were Pakistani before and they remain Pakistani today,” he said, adding that those harbouring doubts should “remove such misconceptions from their minds”. 

The PML-N leader further alleged that the public was being misled into believing that those not voting for the PPP would be deprived of payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme. 

“The money belongs to the World Bank and is distributed by the Government of Pakistan,” he said, warning that his party knew how to protect its workers if complaints of political victimisation emerged. 

Claiming that the PML-N did not require any electoral alliance, he said the party had enough electable candidates in every constituency and would contest the elections on the basis of its manifesto and past performance. 

“We will form the government with a two-thirds majority,” he asserted. 

Former minister Sardar Tahir Anwar Khan, former MLA Sehrish Qamar, former AJK Council members Sardar Abdul Khaliq Wasi and Sardar Naseem Ahmed Sarfraz, along with Javed Sharif Advocate, Khawaja Imran Ashraf and Sardar Arshad Niazi, also addressed the gathering. 

They, too, alleged that attempts were being made “in collusion with certain elements” to postpone the elections in order to manipulate the process and urged the AJK Election Commission to announce the election schedule before May 25.

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JI emir launches ‘Bano Qabil’ in Muzaffarabad, urges Kashmiri youth to stay hopeful

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan emir Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday urged the youth of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to remain steadfast in the face of unemployment, inflation and economic hardship, saying difficult circumstances should not push them towards despair or decisions detrimental to the Kashmiri cause.

Addressing thousands of male and female students gathered at a playground here for admissions and entry tests to free IT training courses under the “Bano Qabil” programme organised by Alkhidmat Foundation, he said the relationship between Pakistanis and Kashmiris was rooted not merely in geography but in shared faith and ideology. 

“The youth of Kashmir are facing immense challenges, including unemployment and inflation, but they must not lose hope,” he said. “No matter what political developments take place, Jamaat-e-Islami will continue to stand with the people of Kashmir.” 

The JI chief said the “Bano Qabil” initiative, which had begun in Karachi, had now reached Muzaffarabad and would gradually expand across AJK. He said the programme aimed to equip 100,000 youths with modern IT skills free of cost to help them build successful careers and contribute positively to society. 

"The Kashmiri youth are no longer alone because Jamaat-i-Islami, with which they have joined hands, stands with them," he said.

Referring to criticism faced by the programme in Karachi, Mr Rehman said some political parties, including the MQM and PPP, had accused JI of launching the initiative for political gains during local government elections. 

“They thought the programme would fade away after the elections, but instead it expanded across the country,” he said. “This educational mission will continue.” 

Urging the youth to remain organised and avoid disunity, he said the country had once suffered division due to internal discord. Referring to developments in Bangladesh, he claimed unity was once again taking root there while those creating unrest had fled. 

Describing AJK as the “base camp” of the Kashmir freedom movement, he said JI Pakistan had consistently supported the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. He also criticised the policies of India’s ruling BJP, lamenting that the Muslims in India continued to face discrimination and political marginalisation under Hindutva-driven politics. 

“The people of Pakistan stand firmly behind the people of Kashmir,” he added. 

Mr Rehman also urged young people to strengthen their connection with Islam and adopt Islamic values, saying lasting justice, equality and solutions to societal problems could only come through a system based on Islamic principles. He said JI wanted to empower Kashmiri youth through education, skills development and opportunities in emerging sectors such as information technology. 

The event was also addressed by the emir of JI AJK and GB Dr Muhammad Mushtaq, president of Alkhidmat Foundation, AJK, retired Col Zafar Rasheed Abbasi, secretary general Aftab Alam Advocate and others.  

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mushtaq said the massive participation of youths in Muzaffarabad showed they regarded the programme as a means to secure their future. He thanked Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for launching what he termed an excellent initiative for the youth of Kashmir and said they would play their role both in shaping their future and in the struggle for Kashmir’s freedom. 

Bano Qabil organiser and special assistant to the JI chief, Umair Idris, who also attended the event, congratulated the Muzaffarabad chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Alkhidmat team for successfully organising the examinations.

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Despite denial of registration, PTI interviews ticket aspirants

Despite facing denial of registration by the Election Commission, the parliamentary board of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the forthcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections on Tuesday completed interviews of more than 50 aspirants for nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division.

The meeting, held in Muzaffarabad, was chaired by the party’s regional president and former prime minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and attended by a majority of board members. 

According to a party spokesperson, interviews for candidates from the Poonch division would be held in Rawalakot on Wednesday, while aspirants from Mirpur division and refugee constituencies would be interviewed in Mirpur on May 23 and 24, respectively. 

The spokesperson said the parliamentary board would forward its recommendations to the central leadership for final approval after completion of the interview process. Loyalty to Imran Khan, merit, capability and commitment to public service would remain key criteria for awarding party tickets, he added. 

The party also intended to bring forward a strong and capable new leadership in AJK while giving due importance to workers’ opinion, the spokesperson said. 

Addressing the meeting, Mr Niazi described Imran Khan as a “benefactor and ambassador” of Kashmiris and said the large turnout of ticket aspirants reflected the party’s popularity. 

“We will come up to the expectations of Imran Khan, the party leadership and workers. There will be no compromise on ideology, loyalty, merit and transparency,” he said, adding that the party intended to field energetic young leadership in the elections. 

Mr Niazi also alleged that attempts were being made to keep PTI-AJK out of the electoral process by denying its registration in the Election Commission. 

“This is an unconstitutional and undemocratic act. Such an exercise will not be accepted as an election but as a selection,” he said, urging the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties to guarantee transparent and impartial elections.

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'AJK, Punjab to sign MoU for Safe City project within month'

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab governments is most likely to be signed within the next month for launching the Safe City Project in the territory’s three divisional headquarters with the cooperation of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.

This was announced by AJK’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) retired Captain Liaqat Ali Malik while talking to senior journalists at his office, here on Tuesday. 

The IGP said the state-of-the-art initiative would introduce advanced surveillance and law enforcement technologies aimed at improving public safety, traffic management and crime prevention across AJK. 

"The Punjab Safe Cities Authority will provide consultancy and technical assistance for the project, under which AI-based monitoring systems, facial recognition technology, e-challan facilities and other modern policing tools will be introduced," Mr Malik said. 

He said that following the signing of the MoU, a comprehensive ground survey would be conducted within a month to determine locations for central control rooms and identify installations required at entry and exit points of the cities. 

"The objective is not merely to install cameras but to establish an integrated, technology-driven policing system capable of enhancing situational awareness, improving emergency response and strengthening crime detection and prevention," he added. 

Mr Malik said the government-to-government arrangement would ensure maximum facilities at comparatively lower cost while maintaining international standards of monitoring and urban policing. 

According to him, the project will initially be launched in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Mirpur before being expanded gradually to other parts of AJK through revenue generated by the system itself. 

He expressed confidence that the Safe City Project would significantly improve traffic flow, support evidence-based policing and help law enforcement agencies respond more effectively to criminal activities and emergencies. 

Referring to counterterrorism measures, the IGP said he had succeeded in obtaining approval from the federal government for the long-pending Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) project after sustained efforts and coordination. 

He said the federal government would provide Rs1.90 billion for buildings, vehicles, arms and ammunition, communications infrastructure and other specialised equipment, while the AJK government had approved the creation of 472 posts for the department. 

"This is a critical national security domain which requires specialised manpower, modern infrastructure and swift operational capability. Our aim is to build a professional and proactive CTD capable of addressing emerging security challenges effectively," he said. 

The IGP also called for the creation of a separate post of deputy inspector general (DIG) for the CTD. 

"A dedicated department of such sensitivity and importance requires an officer of DIG rank exclusively focused on operational readiness, intelligence coordination and timely decision-making," he observed. 

Mr Malik asserted that efforts were underway to make police officers more accessible to ordinary citizens and improve public confidence in law enforcement institutions. 

He said AJK, despite being a relatively small territory, had 60 police stations, 30 police posts and 27 check posts with a total strength of around 9,800 personnel. 

"Once deployments for security duties and police stations are accounted for, only around 2,000 personnel remain available for operational responsibilities."

Regarding the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections, Mr Malik said the police department had completed its preparatory work to ensure peaceful, transparent and orderly polls. 

 "During general elections, we may require an additional 4,000 to 5,000 personnel. As soon as the election schedule is announced, consultations will begin with all stakeholders regarding deployment requirements," he said.

"Decisions in such matters are never taken in isolation by the police chief; rather, they are made collectively in accordance with the ground realities and security assessments," he added. 

Responding to a question about the strike call announced by the Joint Awami Action Committee for June 9, the IGP said the police respected the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful protest. 

“As long as demonstrations remain peaceful and within the ambit of law, there will be no action against any citizen. However, attempts to block roads, disrupt public life or resort to coercion will compel the law to take its course,” he said. 

He expressed the hope that people had developed greater civic responsibility and realised that public infrastructure and property ultimately belonged to them. 

“Damaging roads, buildings, vehicles or public facilities amounts to harming one’s own society and collective interests,” he remarked. 

The IGP said work was also underway on establishing an Elite Force, a Cyber Crime Force and a Quick Response Force (QRF) to enhance the professional capabilities of the AJK police. 

Highlighting the comparatively low crime rate in the territory, he noted that a single police station in Lahore registered nearly 12,000 criminal cases annually, whereas the overall crime rate in AJK so far this year remained below 5,000, with hardcore crime constituting only a small proportion. 

Mr Malik said the AJK police currently comprised nine DIGs, 10 SPs and 35 DSPs, and stressed that improving accessibility to senior officers was among his priorities. 

“I have instructed officers at all levels to keep their doors open for the public because easy access to the competent authority helps resolve grievances quickly and strengthens trust between the police and the community,” he said. 

Observing that the tenure of an IGP was usually limited, Mr Malik said he wanted his time in office to leave a positive impact, particularly for vulnerable and underprivileged segments of society.

Tariq Naqash 

Illegal warehouse sealed over counterfeit beverages, unsafe storage

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Food Authority on Monday sealed an illegal warehouse in a residential area of the state capital during a crackdown on food safety violations. 

The raid was carried out by a Food Authority team following a tip-off and surveillance, leading to the recovery of a large quantity of counterfeit soft drinks resembling well-known brands, along with other food items. 

Officials said the warehouse had been operating unlawfully in the Gojra locality without the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC). 

During the inspection, authorities found that beverages and other food products were being stored in direct sunlight and under extremely high temperatures, in violation of the Pure Food Regulations 2019. 

Officials warned that such improper storage conditions could seriously compromise food quality and pose health risks to consumers. 

The inspection team also found that the operators failed to produce authorised distribution documents and mandatory quality compliance reports for the multi-brand products stocked at the facility. 

The Food Authority said legal action had been initiated against those responsible and vowed to intensify operations against counterfeit, unsafe and substandard food items across the district under its zero-tolerance policy on food safety violations.

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AJK Election Commission rejects reports linking poll schedule to refugee seats

CEC Ghulam Mustafa Mughal says no political authority can dictate AJK poll schedule

The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday dismissed as “baseless” reports circulating in sections of the vernacular press and on social media suggesting that the general election schedule could not be announced until a decision was taken on the fate of the refugee seats. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for the commission stressed that the electoral body was “an autonomous and independent constitutional institution” that discharged its constitutional and legal responsibilities with complete independence. 

“The announcement of the election schedule falls within the legal authority and jurisdiction of the Election Commission, which is exercised in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations in a timely manner,” he said. 

The spokesperson added that the commission was neither required to consult nor seek permission from “any institution, individual or forum” before issuing the election schedule. 

The clarification appeared to be prompted by remarks attributed to AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore during an informal interaction with journalists from Rawalakot at the residence of Sardar Tanveer Ilyas in Bangoin late on Saturday night.

According to journalists present at the gathering, Mr Rathore, while responding to a question, had said he believed the election schedule could not be announced until a decision was reached regarding the refugee seats. 

Mr Ilyas, who was also present, reportedly remarked that “nothing would happen” if elections were delayed by three or four months. In a video clip circulating on social media, he was heard reiterating a similar view at another event in his native area on Sunday. 

Rejecting the reports, the Election Commission spokesperson said the claims being circulated in newspapers and online were “contrary to facts and unfounded,” and urged the public and media outlets to rely only on official statements issued by the commission. 

“The Commission makes all its decisions independently, keeping in view the requirements of the law and the public interest,” he added. 

When contacted by this scribe, Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said the power to announce the election schedule rested exclusively with the Election Commission. 

“Neither any political party nor any executive authority has the right to dictate when and how the election schedule should be announced,” he said, in an apparent reference to the AJK premier. 

He said the commission would appoint returning officers on Tuesday, while the election schedule would be announced after two days.

Tariq Naqash