AJK capital stinks as civic workers go on strike

I wonder why the district administration and government are taking this issue lightly.....Qabza groups appeear to have been more powerful than the official agencies. But obviously they cannot breach law unless some people from the official machinery are backing them up.

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By Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD, June 25: Officials and employees of Municipal Corporation Muzaffarabad (MCM) observed strike on the second consecutive day here on Friday to protest and condemn the alleged attack at their garbage laden vehicles and misbehaviour by an administration official with their chief officer.

The striking employees staged a demonstration outside their under-construction office in Upper Adda during which they kept on chanting vociferous slogans against the administration for “failing to provide them protection.”

Garbage had piled up in almost all neighbourhoods due to the strike and residents feared that the city would be stinking by the next working day (on Monday).

According to Shaikh Tahir Wasim, president Local Council Employees’ Association, two garbage laden vehicles were fired upon and pelted with stones by a group of miscreants near the civic body’s landfill site in Zaminabad village along Muzaffarabad-Kohala Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Not only the vehicles got damaged by firing and stone pelting but a driver, Basharat Gillani, also received injuries, creating deep sense of insecurity among the entire staff, he added.

Mr Wasim recalled that it was second such incident at the same place since June 10 at the hands of unscrupulous people who wanted to grab the 35 kanals of land, purchased and developed by the MCM for garbage dumping.

A fresh FIR was lodged against 10 accused persons but the police were yet to arrest the main culprits, he said.

On Thursday some notables from Zaminabad area approached the district administration following which negotiations between them and corporation officials were held in the office of deputy commissioner Muzaffarabad to find a solution to the problem.

According to Mr Wasim, the Zaminabad residents agreed at the meeting to get the damaged vehicles repaired besides ensuring that such incidents did not recur in future.

However, when corporation’s chief officer Abdul Hameed Shaheen said he could not call off the strike without taking the employees’ association into confidence he was roughly treated by assistant commissioner Abdul Hamid Kiany, which added fuel to the flames of striking employees’ rage and resentment.

The striking employees also met their concerned minister, Raja Naseer Ahmed, and asked him to redress the balance.

Mr Wasim said though the minister had directed the divisional commissioner to submit him a report, the employees could hardly resume work amid threats to their lives.

“Unless the government takes concrete steps to provide security to garbage dumping workers and also transfers the uncouth assistant commissioner we will not end our strike,” he declared.

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civil society warns against long march to protest delay in reconstruction

Reconstruction of Muzaffarabad has been a very sensitive issue for the residents of Muzaffarabad ever since the same had been pledged to them by the authorities concerned. But while the luxuries of these authorities go on unabated, the real task seems nowhere in their priorities. We all are mourning the indifference.


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By Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD, June 24: Hundreds of people from different walks of life staged a demonstration here on Thursday to raise voice against the “unjustified delay” in reconstruction of the earthquake affected urban areas, mainly the AJK capital.

They also warned against staging a long march on to the Parliament building as well the headquarters of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) in Islamabad if their 50-point ‘charter of demands’ was not implemented within one month.

The demonstration was held on the call of a civil society forum - Tehreek-e-Tameer-e-Nau of Movement for Reconstruction (TTN) – along the bustling thoroughfare in Chattar which houses almost all important official buildings, including that of Legislative Assembly which was in session at that time.

Led by Zahid Amin and Shaukat Javed Mir, convenor and secretary general, respectively, of TTN, the demonstrators were holding placards inscribed with their demands as well as disapproval of alleged delay in reconstruction. They were also chanting similar slogans.
Legislators from the constituents of combined opposition, Chaudhry Latif Akbar of PPAJK, Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed of Peoples Muslim League, Abdul Majid Khan of Friends Group and Mohammad Salim Butt of MQM, also visited the venue demonstration and expressed support and solidarity with them.

They assured them that they would raise the issues of citizens in the house and play their role for their settlement.

The opposition lawmakers accused the present government of having failed to deliver on all counts, including the reconstruction.

Other speakers said that almost five years had elapsed since the devastating October 2005 earthquake but reconstruction related projects had not been initiated in the affected areas, including the state capital.

Tens of hundreds of people, they pointed out, were still living in temporary accommodations as neither the much hyped satellite towns had been developed nor the landless families had been provided with alternate land.

They alleged that the funds meant for reconstruction were being diverted by the concerned authorities somewhere else and whatever was left was being spent on non-productive activities and luxuries.

On its part the AJK government was also brazenly ignoring the reports of international experts regarding strict implementation of building codes and construction in the hazardous areas, notwithstanding the threats it was posing to lives of people.

They said that the earthquake survivors had been constantly offering sacrifices and they would not compromise on the issue of reconstruction.

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crisis looms large over ruling Muslim Conference

By Tariq Naqash
MUZAFFARABAD, June 23: The ruling Muslim Conference in Azad Jammu and Kashmir might experience another crisis amid reports that its president, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, has allegedly struck an underhand deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership to dislodge Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider shortly after the approval of next year’s budget.
Background interviews with some credible treasury and opposition lawmakers confirmed that proverbial palace intrigues were in full swing to effect yet another political change in almost four years of present Legislative Assembly’s inception.
However, Mr Khan was unable to convince even his once trusted friends to support him for a change as they believed that the move could ultimately go to the benefit of PPP’s AJK chapter, sources said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haider dashed off to Islamabad to hold a morale-boosting meeting with Muslim League-N leader Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif but back in Muzaffarabad he had detailed a team of ministers “to convince Mr Khan to reconcile with the present dispensation.”
Though an official handout said Mr Sharif had reiterated his commitment to uphold and strengthen the ideological bonds between the PML and MC, sources however asserted that the former Pakistan PM had in fact assured Mr Haider of his all out support against any moves aimed at bringing political change in Muzaffarabad.
A credible source in the ruling party told this correspondent, which was later confirmed by an opposition lawmaker as well, that Mr Khan had agreed at a meeting with Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo that he would manipulate a no-trust move against Mr Haider and dissolve the assembly for fresh elections later this year.
Mr Wattoo had assured Sardar Attique that the 19 member opposition, comprising PPAJK, Peoples Muslim League, MQM and Friends Group, would support him if he pulled in only six lawmakers from his own party.
It was why Mr Wattoo had sanctioned development schemes worth Rs 400 million in the constituency of Mr Khan from the funds of AJK Council, sources said, adding Mr Khan had also softened his tone towards the central government which he was greeting with scathing criticism not too long ago.
According to sources, the planners believed that once the new government was formed in AJK initially with 19 opposition and 7 MC MLAs, other MC legislators would also jump onto the bandwagon shortly afterwards.
However, MLAs from Rajput tribe were to be kept out of the new setup, they said.
Sources further told that Mr Khan had recently met Peoples Muslim League president Barrister Sultan Mahmood and both had reportedly agreed to cooperate with each other in next elections.
There had been a similar understanding between him and the PPP leadership, they said.
Sources said PPP leadership had decided that their MLAs would not accept cabinet slots in the new government under Mr Khan, as they were eyeing the future setup.
Sources said if pushed to the wall Mr Haider could take the extreme step of dissolving assembly to frustrate the plans of Mr Khan.
“In such a situation, PML-N was bound to emerge on AJK’s political horizon,” they said.
A political analyst said it was a war of nerves and whoever managed to make the first strike will be triumphant.
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Kashmiri children yearn for peace in their 'Lost Paradise'

By Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD, June 19: Annual Day functions in educational institutions have more or less same ingredients –dance performances, music and skits, but Saturday’s event in a charity school here was unique as its each and every item carried a thought provoking message about the effects of lingering Kashmir dispute on its people, particularly the younger lot.

Hailing from a gun ridden society, young children aged between 6 and 14 articulated their thoughts as well as yearning for lasting peace in their disputed Himalayan region, winning admiration from the audience which represented people from different walks of life, including AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir.

The function was organised by Sawera Model School – one of the educational institutions of Sawera Foundation which imparts free quality education to the victims of Kashmir conflict, such as children of martyrs inside the held Valley and along the Line of Control and from other vulnerable communities.

“Kashmiri children have been a prey of catastrophes in succession... The armed conflict in their motherland has rendered most of them orphans and vulnerable. They need an early settlement of lingering Kashmir problem so that their miseries and plight comes to end,” said 14-year old Rabia Khawaja who lost her father to Indian shelling in 1998.

A short play highlighted the irony of Kashmiri families affected by the armed conflict and migration, particularly the social, fiscal and family problems of those who had lost their near and dear ones.

However, the magnificent spectacle was performance on a thematic poem – “The Paradise Lost.”

It began with scenes of a crystal blue waterfall and melodies of nightingales, replaced shortly afterwards by bloodshed, bomb blasts, recurrent gunshots and fear.

“They icy and chilling cold can be endured…But what about the terror of gun? The fire in the hearth of Kangri (traditional Kashmiri fire pot) is far better than brutality of thee (gun),” read the poem, in a clear message about longing for peace.

In his address on the occasion, militant leader turned peace activist Tanvir ul Islam said children were the worst victims of Kashmiri conflict and needed the utmost attention of the international community for their grooming as ambassadors of peace, religious harmony and coexistence.

Mr Islam, it may be recalled, led the United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of Kashmiri militant groups, from 1991-93 but later switched over to peace initiatives, with main emphasis on education of vulnerable children under the banner of Sawera Foundation.

“I have dedicated my abilities and expertise to providing education to children because an educated and skilled lot can effectively fight for their rights,” he said.

Listing some of the challenges to sustenance of his welfare projects, Mr Islam urged concerned people and organisations to come forward to ensure a bright future of neglected children who could fall prey to bigots out of poverty and ignorance.

The LA speaker appreciated the efforts of Sawera Foundation and said: “Not only should our own governments but also the international organisations strengthen such institutions working for sustainable peace at grassroots level and mitigation of radicalisation.”

Former AJK minister Khawaja Farooq Ahmed said he was highly impressed by the way children from undistinguished communities had performed during the function with an awe-inspiring message.

Noted religious scholar Shahabuddin Madni also spoke and vowed to raise voice for Sawera Schools at every forum for their noble work.

Later, children were also given shields and certificates for best academic results.

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Austerity Needed

Azad Jammu and Kashmir faces a challenging new financial year. There is a record Rs17.5bn deficit in the Rs47.3bn budget, with the development outlay being badly hit. Non-development expenditure has gobbled up a huge chunk of the budget (Rs36.157bn) and the AJK government has to put in a tremendous effort to bridge the gap.

The cuts the territory is facing have been attributed to the fiscal restructuring after the signing of the seventh NFC award. Though AJK is not constitutionally part of Pakistan and hence not directly entitled to a slice of the NFC pie, reductions in the federal government’s share have had a direct effect on the state’s finances. Islamabad contributes towards AJK’s development budget through ‘block allocation’ as well as other heads, and as these contributions have been scaled down, a large deficit has resulted.

Muzaffarabad contends that if the central government gave the state its due share of net hydel profits and federal taxes, its fiscal conditions could improve and it would not have to look to Islamabad for bailouts. Some observers say that friction between the AJK government and Islamabad is having an adverse effect on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The federal government must look into these claims and if there are indeed blockages clogging up the flow of funds to AJK, they must be cleared. As far as better financial management is concerned, there are possible short- and long-term solutions for the AJK government. Observers have noted that despite the record deficit the AJK administration has not announced any austerity measures. The cabinet is too big and the government styles itself after the Punjab administration. Can Muzaffarabad afford to run a government along Lahore’s model, or is a leaner administration and belt-tightening in order? As for long-term solutions, perhaps the federal government should invest in hydroelectric power projects in AJK, which will generate income and help alleviate the national power crisis.

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Budget deficit inevitable, says AJK finance minister

By Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD, June 20: AJK minister for finance and planning and development Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan has maintained that deficit in the AJK budget for next fiscal year was inevitable due to certain reasons, “unparalleled cuts by the central government in developmental grants” being one of them.

“It’s not that we are spending money on luxuries. As far as the recurring expenditures are concerned, they were bound to scale up following unavoidable raises in salaries, allowances and pensions of government servants,” he said in response to questions at the post budget press conference here on Saturday night.

“Secondly, we have not received due share in a number of revenue resources or else the shortfall would have been much low,” he added.

When asked if the AJK government could come up with complete facts and figures to substantiate a general perception that if given actual share in revenue receipts AJK’s economic dependence on Islamabad would peter out, Mr Khan said: “Our relationship with Pakistan is very sensitive and however logical our demands and however genuine our rights may be, we will never seek them lest it might not give any opportunity to our enemy (India) to exploit it.”

But, he said, it remained a fact that payment of net hydel profit share and GST of Mangla, appropriate share in federal taxes, reimbursement of income generated from JK State property in Pakistan as well as the taxes collected by the AJK Council from the AJK territory etc could greatly mitigate the financial woes of the government in Muzaffarabad.

According to him, since the AJK government does not have representation in the National Finance Commission, it’s the responsibility of the central government to protect its legitimate interests during resource distribution.

He questioned: Is it not ironical that the development grant for AJK government, which has to cater for 3.5 million people, is merely Rs 6.17 billion whereas that of the AJK Council, whose source of income is 20 per cent share of the AJK taxes, is around Rs 7 billion, notwithstanding the fact that developmental work is not its mandate?

The finance minister dismissed the contention of AJK opposition that it was not taken into confidence on budget preparation and said what he had presented before the house were merely proposals and opposition could come up with its suggestions during the debate, commencing from Monday.

“Their indisputable suggestions would definitely be incorporated in the budget before its approval.”

When asked why his budget speech lacked mention of any austerity measures, Mr Khan said Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider would announce the same in the Legislative Assembly.

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Rs17.5bn deficit in AJK’s Rs47.3bn budget for 2010-11

MUZAFFARABAD: Finance Minister Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan on Friday presented Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Rs47.332 billion tax-free budget for 2010-11, which carries a deficit of Rs17.5 billion.

The budget proposed Rs36.157 billion for non-developmental expenditures and Rs11.174 billion for developmental activities.

The central government has so far pledged a mere Rs6.174 billion for development activities, including a foreign aid component of Rs658 million.

The AJK hopes to generate Rs11.672 billion from its internal resources, Rs750 million from water user charges of Mangla, Rs4.5 billion as its 80 per cent share in taxes generated by the AJK Council from the AJK territory, Rs6.68 billion as share in federal taxes and the deficit between income and recurring expenditures to the tune of Rs12.555 billion for non-development activities would be met by the central government.

Earlier, as Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir gave floor to the finance minister to deliver his budget speech, an opposition lawmaker stood on a point of order and accused the government of ignoring the opposition during preparation of the fiscal document.

The opposition lawmakers kept on chanting noisy slogans amid desk thumping for about 10 minutes and then staged a walkout.

The finance minister acknowledged that provinces had faced cuts in their budgets on account of the central government’s financial constraints, but the AJK had never been subjected to cuts. Instead, its budget had always been increased by at least 10 to 15 per cent, Raja Nisar added.

“However, this time round we have faced a different situation, possibly because of reduced share of federal government in the national cake under the new NFC award,” he said.

“This house is not oblivious to problems and challenges we are coping with but nevertheless we are getting along. However, if we are given our share in net hydel profit, federal taxes, Jammu Kashmir State property and other income resources, we may not be in need of grant-in-aid and our government is sincerely struggling to get these rights,” the minister said.

He said that Islamabad had earmarked Rs10.752 billion for AJK’s development budget for the current year through ‘block allocation’ and apart from that Rs6.493 billion had been separately allocated for AJK in the federal PSDP.

However, in a sharp departure from past practices, ‘block allocation’ and share in the federal PSDP had been merged into each other after reduction by 34 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively. Notwithstanding the cut, the last instalment of ‘block allocation’ to the tune of Rs1.815 billion was yet to be released, he said. Furthermore, a special grant of Rs245 million announced by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for AJK lawmakers had also been deducted from the ‘block allocation,’ he added.Practically, the minister said, Rs4.71 billion had been released as ‘block allocation’ in the current year which had badly affected the entire development programme.

Regarding the next year’s block allocation, he said that although the Annual Plan Coordination Committee had agreed to provide Rs7.55 billion, the National Economic Council (NEC) scaled it down to Rs 6.174 billion.

“The President, Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Pakistan have assured that they would provide more funds for AJK’s annual development programme; we are however left with no choice but to propose Rs 11.174 billion as the volume of our next ADP which includes a deficit of Rs 5 billion,” he said.

Regarding the non-developmental budget, he said the AJK government required Rs 35 billion for the current year but the federal finance division had agreed for Rs 29 billion which was far less than AJK’s needs.

Listing the raise given by the federal government in salaries and allowances of serving and retired employees as well as police personnel and judicial officers, the minister said AJK needed at least Rs 7 billion more to meet these expenditures. The deficit of the non-developmental expenditures would therefore rise to 12.555 billion from the existing Rs 5.555 billion which will have to be picked by the central government, he added.

Of the development budget, he asserted that special emphasis had been laid on communication, local government, education, health, hydropower generation and tourism sectors. However, as the development budget also faced deficit, actual allocations (given in brackets below) were less than the ones proposed by the minister.

Giving details, the minister said Rs 4185.343 million had been proposed for transport and communications (actual allocation Rs 2119.189 m), Rs 1500 m for power sector (Rs 725.119 m); Rs 1000 m for local government and rural development sector (Rs 522.644 m); Rs 916.487 m for foreign funded projects; Rs 828.811 m for education sector (Rs 402.720 m); Rs 766.16 m for physical planning and housing (Rs 423.358 m), Rs 361.38 m for forestry/fisheries and wildlife (Rs 199.688 m); Rs 308.147 m for health sector (Rs 170.273 m), Rs 228.132 for information technology (Rs 126.059 m); Rs 196.587 m for tourism (Rs 81 m); Rs 171.924 m for sports (Rs 95 m); Rs 171.607 m for development authorities (Rs 94.825 m); Rs 165.548 for industries and mineral (Rs 91.477 m); Rs 149.394 m for agriculture and livestock (Rs 82.551 m); Rs 110.369 m for research and development (Rs 60.987 m); Rs 40.377 m for civil defence (Rs 22.311 m); Rs 34.321 m for social welfare (Rs 18.965 m); Rs 20.189 for information and media development (11.156 m); Rs 20.189 m for environment (11.156 m).

Earlier AJK cabinet approved the budget at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider.

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