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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Zardari invites PPAJK lawmakers for a crucial session in Karachi

The parliamentary party of ruling Peoples Party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will be holding a crucial sitting with PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi on Tuesday, deliberations at which will determine the fate of AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, it is believed.

The meeting is being held in the wake of mounting tensions in the ranks of the 31-member ruling parliamentary party in AJK, which includes 2 MQM lawmakers, as well as former prime minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood, who has long been campaigning for Mr Majee’s ouster, citing his alleged corruption.

However, for some time Mr Mahmood feels energised following open expression of disagreement by some cabinet members with Mr Majeed on the one hand and contacts by the confidants of party’s central leadership with him on the other.

Mr Mahmood and his lawmaker cousin, Chaudhry Arshad Hussain, are not attending Tuesday’s meeting and, according to sources close to them, might separately call on Mr Zardari on Wednesday.

The MQM lawmakers have not been invited for the Tuesday’s meeting.  

It may be recalled that 12 members of ruling parliamentary party had stayed away from the special joint session of AJK assembly and AJK council, held to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, to express their differences with premier Majeed, even though the event was addressed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The angry group has been lobbying for replacement of Mr Majeed and many of its members had conveyed their feelings to Ms Faryal Talpur MNA, who supervises the affairs of Peoples Party and its government in AJK.

Ms Talpur, who was said to be having a soft corner for Mr Majeed, had however reportedly asked some of the rebels to express their concerns openly in the parliamentary party meeting instead of individually putting over to her.

Earlier, Ms Talpur was supposed to chair the parliamentary party meeting. However, following the alleged intervention by two former federal ministers from PPP, Mr Zardari had decided to preside over the session himself and to get firsthand account of AJK legislators, sources said.

“The disagreement simmering for long in the AJK government may boil over on Tuesday in the presence of Mr Zardari,” claimed a source in PPAJK.

The anti-Majeed camp was optimistic that Mr Zardari would seal the fate of Mr Majeed after extracting information from the parliamentary party on governance related issues, party’s performance over the last two and a half years and its standing in the masses.  

However, independent sources were of the view that it was highly unlikely that any decision, whether against or in favour of Mr Majeed, would be announced by Mr Zardari on Tuesday.

On the other hand, those standing by Mr Majeed were hopeful that the meeting would just clear the air.

“Prime Minister Majeed is not only the most loyal and committed leader of the Peoples Party but also closely associated with the occupied Kashmir leadership. There is no question of his removal from this office in the middle of assembly’s term,” said his spokesman Shaukat Javed Mir.

“The meeting is primarily aimed at having an interaction with party’s co-chairperson after a considerable gap and seeking guidance from him on improvement of governance as well as party’s popularity and its relationship with Islamabad in future,” he said…… Tariq Naqash

AJKRSP struggling to reclaim its 'missing' assets

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rural Support Programme (AJKRSP), an organisation raised to perk up the economic conditions of rural communities in AJK has been desperately struggling for almost a year to reclaim its “missing” assets, including a dozen vehicles, but in vain.

The AJKRSP was launched by the government in June 2007 under the Companies Ordinance, 1984, with Rs 250 million-endowment fund. According to the 2007 notification, AJK prime minister headed the company’s board of directors as chairman.

In 2009, the then AJK premier withdrew government’s role from the AJKRSP but the new board of directors was not recognised by the Registrar Joint Stock Companies, Firms and Associations (JSCFA).

In March last year, the government revived the initially constituted board which removed AJKRSP’s the then chief executive officer (CEO) Attiqur Rehman and replaced him by Mian Akhlaq Rasool.

The same board was validly recognised by the Registrar JSCFA and Form 29 was issued in its favour in April last year.

Mr Rehman who was simultaneously holding the post of regional manager, National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), filed a petition in the AJK High Court against his removal, which was dismissed in November 2013.

However, Mr Rehman and some of his team members were alleged to have retained assets of the AJKRSP, including vehicles, registration books and other equipment, which they were not returning despite several requests and reminders.

According to official record, 25 Toyota double cabin pickups, 5 Mitsubishi Lancer cars, one Toyota Hiace Hi-Roof wagon, 16 motorbikes and other equipment, including electronic gadgets, were purchased for the organisation.

However, Khawaja Mohammad Iqbal, programme officer (admin and HR), told this scribe that after the new administration took over, it transpired that most of the assets and belongings as well as record and registration books, were missing.

Reports were instantly lodged with the police in Muzaffarabad as well as in Mirpur, with copies to senior police and administration officials but only a few items could be recovered to this day, he said.

Giving details of the missing assets, he said, 5 pickups, 2 cars and 2 motorbikes were allegedly in NRSP regional office near Sihala Islamabad under control of Mr Rehman.  Apart from that, he added, at least 13 laptops, 2 desktops, 2 multimedia, 4 laser printers, 3 split air conditioners, 1 photocopier, 4 digital cameras, a generator and some other small items purported to have been purchased by the previous management were also in their possession.

There was altogether no record of the furniture, equipment etc purchased for the organisation’s “camp office” near Sihala, Mr Iqbal said.

When contacted for comments, the former CEO acknowledged that the “board”  (referring to the unrecognised one) was in possession of “some of the assets,” including 7 vehicles.

He however maintained that the “board” was lawfully possessing them whereas the present management was unlawful and thus “occupying the remaining assets and offices unlawfully.”

Brushing off his contentions, Mr Rasool asserted that the stance of the previous management had found no takers in the official and legal circles.

“The assets were purchased from public money and must be brought back to the head office. Who knows where and how they are being (mis)used over the last one year,” he said.

Documents available with this scribe further revealed that the AJK prime minister's secretariat had also obtained 3 cars and 2 pickups from the AJKRSP between 2010-2013 and it was not known as to who they had been provided to by the PM secretariat.

When questioned about it, Mr Rasool said he had sent at least three reminders to the PM secretariat for return of these vehicles, but to no avail…. Tariq Naqash

crisis persists in AJK as both sides stick to their guns

By Tariq Naqash

The deadlock between the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and Centre on the issue of return of the chief secretary and IGP persists, with no side showing any signs of flexibility in their stance.

“Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has made it clear to all concerned that there will not be any compromise on this issue, come what may,” Shaukat Javid Mir, one of his spokesmen, told this scribe on Wednesday.

However, the Establishment Division secretary Shahid Rashid had written to Mr Majeed that postings and transfers of five lent officers – a term used for chief secretary, IGP, additional chief secretary (development), secretary finance and accountant general – was the “exclusive prerogative of the Government of Pakistan and the AJK government could not post any officer to against these positions.”

The letter was also copied to the office of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and IGP Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan. 

 Earlier in the day, Mr Majeed held closed-door meetings with his cabinet colleagues at his residence and an important meeting with secretaries to the government at his office.

“The prime minister told the secretaries that he had taken this step (surrendering the services of chief secretary and IGP) for the dignity and honour of state,” Mr Mir said, claiming that the secretaries assured in return that “they would follow the chief executive of the state and discharge their functions in accordance with the Rules of Business.”

Soon after the meeting, Chaudhry Munir Hussain, secretary Services and General Administration (S&GAD) became the first casualty of the crisis, as he was made OSD (officer on special duty) for his alleged reluctance to issue some notifications.

Khawaja Muhammad Ahsen, an additional secretary in BPS-20 in S&GAD, was transferred and posted as secretary S&GAD, an order Mr Gondal described as unlawful "because the summary was not routed through his office."

On Monday evening, the prime minister’s office had issued a directive to all secretaries, heads of the departments and administration and police officials that they should not follow the orders and instructions of “defunct” chief secretary and IGP or route any file through their offices as they had lost the trust of the AJK government.  

However, even when Mr Majeed was holding meetings in his office, Mr Gondal and Mr Awan were also sitting in their respective offices, located in the closest proximity to the prime minister’s office.

Meanwhile, there were indications that the PML-N was contemplating moving a no trust motion against Mr Majeed in next three days, with its president Raja Farooq Haider as successor to the incumbent premier.

The PML-N lawmakers were likely to hold a meeting with Premier Sharif on Thursday to seek his approval, something he had denied to them in July last year, according to insiders.

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Non completion of an iconic Bridge adds to peoples' woes in Muzaffarabad

The completion of an iconic bridge in the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) may witness further delay, much to the exasperation of the people here, thanks to the non-clearance of contractor’s liabilities by the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra).

Construction work on the state of the art cable stayed ‘Earthquake Memorial Bridge’ which according to the latest deadline was to finish by December 31, 2013 has recently been suspended by the contractor – Ghulam Rasool and Company (GRC) - allegedly because Erra owed it more than Rs 200 million as “work done liabilities,” it has been learnt.

 “Its not possible for any company to continue work when its liabilities of such volume are not cleared in time. So far we did not suspend work to save the reputation of our company but now it’s beyond our control,” said a representative of the construction company, while pleading anonymity.

However, officials associated with the project say its not only the clearance of the work done liabilities, but assurance of the provision of remaining funds for the completion of the project was also remains a greater concern for them. 

Designed by the Japanese organisations - Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and Nippon Koei - the bridge will ease the ever rising and irritating traffic congestions here by connecting Naluchi and Chattar neighbourhoods on the right and left banks of River Jhelum, respectively, and its why the people are much solicitous about its completion.

According to officials, the earthquake resistant bridge, which is around 84 metres above the river level and hence also invulnerable to floods, comprises three portions.

The western portion (towards Naluchi) and eastern portion (towards Chattar) measure around 168 and 60 metres, respectively, whereas the extra-dosed middle portion measures 246 metres. The width of the bridge, including walkways on both sides, is 15 metres.

The bridge and 452 metre long approach roads on both sides are part of Rs 1.382 billion package-I allotted to GRC whereas Rs 451 million package-II, comprising 4-kilometre long Western Bypass, has been allotted to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). The bypass begins from Naluchi side of bridge and joins the Neelum valley road near Chehla Bandi.

The whole project, after hitting many snags, had started in May 2009 and was estimated to be completed in 33 months in January 2012. However, it met delays due to three main issues, including the cash flow, acquisition of land and the massive February 2010 flood from Zalzal Lake.

According to officials, the cash flow issue had been at its worst in 2012-13 and the ongoing 2013-14, thus badly affecting the progress.

“Had the funds been made available in time according to the requirements, the bridge could have been made operational much before the 8^th anniversary of the earthquake on October 8, 2013,” one official confided this scribe.

So far almost 90 per cent work has been completed but work on the final closing segment - adjoining the middle portion with western and eastern positions – has been held up due to cash flow issue.

After the connection of all three portions, apparently unseen allied works, such as electrification of bridge, readjustment of external cables, construction of stairs and laying of asphalt, would consume some time.

However, the officials were uncertain as to when the bridge would be inaugurated for traffic, saying it could take at least four months after clearance of outstanding payments and assurance of instant provision of remaining funds.

Meanwhile, irked by the sluggishness of construction work, Markazi Anjuman e Tajran, an important body of local traders, has announced to stage a sit-in on the eastern side of bridge on Tuesday, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visits the town to preside over the budget session of the AJK Council.

“Due to the non completion of this bridge, the town is experiencing worst traffic jams and resultantly patients, students are suffering in particular…But Erra and other authorities seem to be heedless of it,” said association’s president Shaukat Nawaz Mir.

"We will draw attention of Prime Minister Sharif towards our plight due to non completion of this pivotal project through a peaceful protest," he declared.

AJK ministers live in MLA Hostel to save house rent

Over a dozen public office holders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including the Legislative Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, are availing themselves of subsidised or free accommodation in state owned hostels while claiming a handsome amount from state exchequer as house rent.

AJK cabinet members are entitled to an official residence in the state capital or a monthly rent of Rs 55,000 if they opt to live in a private house.

Similarly, the speaker and deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly can also avail an official residence or claim Rs 25,000 per month as rent for private residences.

 However, instead of residing in official or private residences, several ministers in addition to the speaker and deputy speaker reside in the Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) hostel whenever they are in the AJK capital.

Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N has termed the practice unlawful  and unethical even though there is no specific law which declares this practice illegal.

The opposition maintains that ministers are part of the government and entitled to certain privileges which MLAs do not have.

Legislative Assembly speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq, who is himself a beneficiary, has acknowledged this practice as “unethical.”

According to details, gathered by this scribe, of the 24 AJK ministers, only five – minister for local government Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin (senior minister), minister for college education Muhammad Matloob Inqalabi, minister for physical planning and housing Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf, minister for agriculture Sardar Akhtar Hussain Rabbani and minister for Azad Kashmir Loggin and Sawmills Corporation Faisal Mumtaz Rathore – have acquired official residences in the ministers’ colony here.

Minister for social welfare Farzana Ahmed, who is daughter of AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan, shares his father’s official residence whenever she visits Muzaffarabad to attend her office, while minister for health Sardar Qamaruz Zaman has turned a hostel-cum-guesthouse at Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Muzaffarabad into his humble abode for the past two years, without any costs.

Three cabinet members – minister for finance Chaudhry Latif Akbar, minister for rehabilitation Abdul Majid Khan and minister for information Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi - live in their personal houses here while minister for works Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, minister for forests Sardar Javaid Ayub, minister for school education Mian Abdul Waheed and minister for revenue Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni have hired private houses, though at comparatively low rent.  

However, 10 cabinet members – minister for law Syed Azhar Hussain Gillani, minister for environment Shazia Khatoon, minister for sports Saleem Butt, minister for transport Tahir Khokhar, minister for tourism Abdul Salam Butt, minister for prisons Raja Wajid ur Rehman, minister for Zakat and Ushar Chaudhry Afsar Shahid, minister for food Javed Iqbal Budhanvi and ministers without portfolios Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim and Muhammad Hussain Sargala - have neither opted for an official nor private house, and instead have been living in the MLA Hostel, while paying peanuts.

It may be relevant to mention here that daily rent of a single, double and family room in the MLA Hostel is Rs 175, Rs 200, and Rs 300, respectively, for sitting or former MLAs while others - officials and private guests - are charged Rs 800, Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 for the same rooms.

Sources said Mr Afsar Shahid, Mr Sargala, Ms Shazia Khatoon and deputy speaker Shaheen Kausar Dar had acquired family rooms on monthly basis, paying Rs 9000 per month, whereas the rest, including the Speaker, would hire a room during their presence in the capital against Rs 200 or 300 per night.

According to sources, since these AJK ministers spent very little time in Muzaffarabad, they preferred to live in the hostels instead of renting a house.

“Using the MLA hostel for accommodation suggests the cabinet members are spending little time at the seat of their government,” a source said.

Interestingly, in 2009, four prefabricated bungalows were built on the premises of Legislative Assembly as Speaker House, Deputy Speaker House, Leader of the Opposition House and LA Secretary House.

However, none of these bungalows were ever inhabited by their prospective allottees and instead they were also made part of the MLA Hostel.

Commenting on the ministers’ practice, opposition PML-N MLA Chaudhry Tariq Farooq said: “This is the height of an illegal as well as unethical practice. Since they are living in an official accommodation, the Accountant General’s Office should stop paying them house rent.”

Mr Farooq recalled that last year he had also drawn speaker’s attention towards this “devious practice” on the floor of the house but to no avail.

However, when contacted by this scribe, the speaker maintained that the ministers were “compelled to live in the MLA Hostel.”

“All of them have applied for official residences and we have also frequently written to the government to provide them the same. But that’s not happening due to unavailability of official houses,” he claimed.

However, when asked was it not unethical to pay just Rs 200-300 per night while claiming Rs 55000 per month, he said: “I agree it’s not ethical.”

Regarding his use of hostel, he said he planned to declare one of the four bungalows as “Speaker House” “but couldn’t do it because it would reduce the number of (currently 52) rooms in MLA Hostel.”

Even the LA secretary Chaudhry Basharat Hussain, a BPS-21 official, was also imitating the ministers by staying in MLA Hostel and paying Rs 200 per night for a family room, under the speaker’s approval.

The speaker however said he was thinking of reviewing that order....Tariq Naqash

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Critics suspicious of senior minister's announcement on LB polls in AJK

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government announced on Thursday it would hold the long due local bodies (LB) polls on party basis in April next year. However, critics in opposition as well as within the ruling People Party were sceptical about the seriousness of the government in this regard, recalling a similar 2-year old proclamation. 

“The Peoples Party government has decided to hold local bodies elections after 22 years under the previous (LB) system in order to transfer powers at the grassroots level and solidity of democracy and democratic institutions,” said Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, AJK’s senior minister for local government and rural development (LG&RD).

“The local governments coming into existence as a result of LB polls will address concerns of people regarding civic amenities without any delay besides serving as nurseries for democracy,” he said.

The last LB polls were held in AJK in 1991 during the Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan led Muslim Conference government. However, when next LB polls became due in 1995, the MC government put them in abeyance, reportedly to avert friction in its ranks ahead of 1996 general elections.

Soon after assuming office in July 1996, the then Barrister Sultan Mahmood led Peoples Party government also announced to hold LB polls on party basis November 16, the same year.

According to official sources, Rs 4.6 million surety was deposited by the candidates throughout AJK. However, the polls were cancelled apparently for correction of voter lists but in effect to avoid any risks in the wake of dissolution of Benazir Bhutto government in Islamabad.  That surety has not been refunded to the candidates to this day.

Ever since 1995, the charge of LB institutions is being given by every government to ‘administrators’ who are either government officials or ruling party leaders. 

The senior minister claimed that compilation of electoral rolls, appointment of election commissioner for local bodies and allied staff, and demarcation of wards would be completed within the next six months to hold the LB polls in April 2014.

However, main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took the minister’s announcement with a pinch of salt “because the PPAJK government had so far proved that it did not believe in honouring its commitments.”

“Not too long ago, our party brought a resolution in the Legislative Assembly for LB polls but tha was opposed by the treasury benches,” said PML-N MLA Dr Najeeb Naqi, who is also vice president of party’s AJK chapter.

“They (government) claim themselves to be the champions of democracy but are running these institutions undemocratically through handpicked party loyalists… Given their track record I am not sure they will keep their word,” he added.

“Our party is all out for LB polls and want them to be held without further ado.”

Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, vice president of ruling PPAJK, also expressed doubt that the government would honour its latest announcement, which was also party’s commitment in the election manifesto.

“Unfortunately, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed led government’s performance has been abysmally poor and this announcement seems to be a stunt to divert attention from that and also to give a lollipop to disheartened party workers,” said the rebel leader.

He said the sincerity of the government would become clear after provision of funds to the election commission for compilation of computerised electoral rolls.

“Otherwise, it would be yet another hoax.”

It may be recalled that in October 2011, Mr Yasin had told a press conference in Mirpur that the LB polls would be held after six months..... Tariq Naqash