Islamabad warned against meddling in AJK

MUZAFFARABAD, March 22: The PML-N has once again warned the Pakistan People's Party led central government about “unrest and law and order problem” in Azad Jammu and Kashmir if the alleged interference by federal ministers in the region does not stop.

“Let it be very clear that if the federal ministers do not stop meddling we will block their entry in AJK and if that leads to unrest and law and order problems its responsibility will rest on the shoulders of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,” said PML-N AJK chapter chief organizer Raja Farooq Haider at a press conference here.

The former AJK premier also asked the “institutions responsible for national security” to take stock of this issue.

“The election drama of 2006 staged by Gen Nadeem (Taj) and Brigadier Ghazanafar (of Military Intelligence) cannot be repeated in 2011. We have to and we will stop it,” he said, referring to the widely prevailing allegations that MI had manipulated 2006 polls in AJK, under the directions of the then military ruler Pervez Musharraf, to bring Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and his Muslim Conference to power.

Apart from the interference of federal government functionaries, Mr Haider alleged, the AJK government was also abusing the resources of state to influence the upcoming polls.

He called upon the mainstream Pakistani media to give more space and time to AJK affairs, so that the people of Pakistan could know that in which circumstances election was being held in this sensitive region.

“All we want is that Pakistan should not blot its copybook by interfering in our election like India uses to do in occupied Kashmir,” he said.

He said the PML-N had decided that neither the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif nor any of his cabinet members would take part in their party’s election campaign in AJK.

“Similarly, we would not like to see any federal government functionary taking part in campaign of Peoples Party in AJK. And if they came, responsibility of any untoward incident will rest on the shoulders of the federal government,” he said.

However, he added, the PPP office bearers who did not hold any official position, such as Bilawal Zardari, Jahangir Badr and Faryal Talpur, were welcome to participate or run the campaign of their candidates here.

Responding questions, he said the PML-N had full faith in the integrity and competence of chief election commissioner Khawaja Mohammad Saeed but it was a fact that the CEC was dependent on administration to conduct free and fair election.

The PML-N, he said, was preparing its suggestions and recommendations for the election commission for free and fair polls.

“Among other things, we want the commission to restrict the expenditures on electioneering to a certain limit so that not-so-rich political workers can also contest election,” he said.

Mr Haider said he did not believe in self praise but it was a fact that he had forcefully raised the issue of the rights of AJK people while being in government, “something the politicians would normally do either before coming to or after quitting power.”

“Our interim constitution needs amendments to do away with some contradictions and overlapping in it, he said, adding, he had also told the top leadership of his party that it will have to address the concerns of AJK after forming government in Pakistan.

About the date of election, he said it should be held in time and there should not be any ambiguity in this regard.

“Whatever is to be done must be done in accordance with this book so as to ensure the sanctity of process,” he said, waving a copy of the constitution.

He told a questioner that AJK was not a constitutional but de facto part of Pakistan and under the UNCIP resolutions Islamabad was responsible to ensure good governance in this region.

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An ‘ever green’ AJK minister redefines loyalty in modern times

Change of loyalties under one or the other pretext by legislators is not an unusual thing in our land of the pure, but hardly anyone would have spotted lawmakers resorting to this practice for at least four times in a short span of five years.

Though many of the 48 AJK Legislative Assembly members are alleged to have set unprecedented records of treacheries and perfidies without any recession, three of them however carry the “unique distinction” of being cabinet members in all four governments that replaced each other in five years.

And of these three, Col (retired) Raja Mohammad Nasim, minister for communication and works (C&W), has not even seen the change of his coveted portfolio, notwithstanding change of governments.

But unlike the other two – minister for Mangla dam affairs and fisheries Chaudhry Mohammad Yousuf and minister for revenue, stamps and evacuee property Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni - Mr Nasim has lately started criticizing Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan to make ground for his next political flight.

Mr Nasim, it may be recalled, was launched in AJK’s electoral politics as a Muslim Conference (MC) candidate in July 2006 general election from Bagh district by the powers that had allegedly manipulated those polls. He was allotted the coveted portfolio of C&W and reconstruction by Prime Minister Sardar Attique.

However, when the situation became unfavourable for Sardar Attique after the fall of his benevolent military dictator in Pakistan, Mr Nasim was among the forerunners of a “forward block” that aimed premier’s replacement.

In a November 17, 2008 chat with this correspondent, he had dubbed the prime minister (Sardar Attique) as “the most controversial personality” who “had failed to deliver on every count.”

In fact, Mr Nasim was among four anti-Sardar Attique lawmakers tipped as his likely successors but as lady luck smiled on Sardar Yaqoob he had to resign himself to a berth in cabinet with the same portfolio.

Mr Yaqoob’s government was sent packing after nine months through a no trust motion by the reunified MC factions which brought Raja Farooq Haider in his place.

Mr Nasim was once again appointed as minister with his previous portfolio.

However, after another nine months, Mr Haider was also shown the door by Sardar Attique with the help of 21 MC MLAs and entire opposition.

Mr Nasim was among those 21 MC MLAs and was once again given the same portfolio in the new (sitting) cabinet.

After his induction, he made some harshest comments in media against Mr Haider, terming him even an “unbalanced person.” No wonder, by then he had forgotten his previous allegations against the sitting premier and was instead all praise for him.

In the last month’s AJK Council election, Mr Nasim however voted for the lone candidate of PML-N, a party led none other than by Mr Haider, in an indication of his next political flight.

When asked on Monday if his alleged voltfaces were not unethical, Mr Nasim maintained that his moves were driven by the “interests of his voters as well as principles.”

“I have not done it for personal gains. Whenever I felt that things were going from bad to worst I could not help but revolt,” he said.

Hurling serious accusations at the prime minister, he termed him a disorientated person who had held the MC hostage to his family.

When asked then why he was still part of the government, he said he had tendered his resignation but it was not accepted.

“Some cabinet colleagues asked me to withdraw my resignation and since I am a civilized person, I couldn’t resist their request.”

Tariq Naqash

King Abdullah University of AJK : Site handed over to builder at long last

By Tariq Naqash

At long last, possession of a site, acquired near here for the construction of Saudi government sponsored King Abdullah University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has been handed over to a builder after issuance of Acceptance Letter (work order) in its favour on Tuesday.

M/S Samboo and Sarco, a joint venture (JV) of Korean and Pakistani firms, got the contract of Rs 5.62 billion project after being chosen for the job by the donor agency – Saudi Fund for Development, according to officials.

At the project site, located some 20 kilometres south of here along Muzaffarabad-Kohala Road in Chattar Klas, officials of the Saudi Fund for Development and Kuwait Fund (SFD&KF) Projects (a unit established by the AJK government to execute the projects sponsored by the two brotherly nations) as well as the AJK University formally handed over documents of land to the representatives of the construction company in a cheerful atmosphere.

Acquisition of the 1000 kanal site as well as payment of permanent and temporary structures and trees thereon to the owners has cost the government some Rs 450 million.

On January 26, the AJK Supreme Court had held that selection of the builder from any of the four bidders, which were technically qualified by the project consultant, should be left on the discretion of the donor.

The apex court had arrived at this decision while hearing an appeal filed by the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) against a December 30, 2010, judgment of the AJK High Court which had directed Erra to award the construction contract to M/S Paragon-Principal, a joint venture of Karachi-based companies, for being the lowest bidder.

The Supreme Court had however directed that the entire process must be completed by February 28 so that the construction work on the site of the already delayed project could commence on March 1.

According to Mansoor Qadir Dar, Project Director SFD&KF Projects, the technical and financial proposals and other relevant documents of all four bidders, which had been pre-qualified, were provided to the donor agency which had given its ‘No Objection Certificate’ in the favour of M/S Samboo and Sarco.

It was after that NOC, the Project Steering Committee of Erra had decided to issue the Acceptance Letter (Letter of Award) to the said company, he added.

The builder, which has recently constructed 4 giant official blocks in the New Civil Secretariat Muzaffarabad, had already mobilized its survey teams to the project site which had initiated soil investigation and other geotechnical studies, Mr Dar said.

The estimated completion period of the project was three years but Attaur Rehman, a representative of the construction company, told this scribe that they would try their best to complete it before the stipulated time “to the entire satisfaction of the donors.”

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Ruling Muslim Conference in deep waters

By Tariq Naqash

Already reeling from the loss of many leaders and workers after the launch of PML-N in AJK, the ruling Muslim Conference suffered another blow on Saturday when its senior vice president announced to have formed a ‘forward group’ in the party.

Speaking at a press conference along with several MC leaders in the lakeside city of Mirpur, Capt (retired) Sarfraz Khan said he had been compelled to take this step after the “sale” of party tickets for the two AJK Council seats by the party leadership.

Mr Khan, also a former MLA from Chaksawari, had applied for the MC ticket for the AJK Council election but instead the party granted its mandate to Saghir Chughtai and Muhammad Khan.

The MC is in a position to clinch two out of four vacant seats of AJK Council in elections scheduled for February 22.

Mr Khan claimed that his name was final for the party ticket but it was dropped after the party leadership “received millions of rupees in illegal gratification from the affluent duo.”

“The ideology of the Muslim Conference has literally been buried. Party president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan is equally blameworthy. But we will not remain silent on this worst ever corruption,” he said.

He said he and his colleagues would tour AJK and work out their future course of action in consultation with party workers and friends.

“We will not quit Muslim Conference but fight these corrupt people. But in the meanwhile, we will not attend any official or party function,” he declared.

He called upon the AJK Supreme Court chief justice to take stock of alleged sale of AJK Council seats and bring the culprits to book.

This correspondent contacted at least three senior MC office bearers for their comments on Mr Khan’s allegations but all of them politely declined to speak about the issue.

AJK elections can be held between May 23 and July 8, says election commission

By Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 10: The general election to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly can be held anytime between May 23 and July 8 and the AJK Election Commission says it will be all set to announce the schedule for the polls after April 15.

According to section 22 (4) of the AJK’s Interim Constitution Act 1974, “general election to the Assembly shall be held within a period of sixty days immediately preceding the day on which the term of the Assembly is due to expire, unless the Assembly has been sooner dissolved, and the result of the election shall be declared not later than fourteen days before that day.”

Since the sitting assembly was installed on July 23, 2006, general election can be conducted at any day between May 23 and July 8, 2011 and the only way to hold the exercise prior to May 23 is premature dissolution of the assembly by the prime minister. In the event of assembly dissolution, general election shall be held within a period of ninety days after the dissolution and the result of the election shall be declared not later than fourteen days after the conclusion of polls.”

However, there was no provision to drag the holding of polls beyond July 8 because election result had to be declared not later than 14 days before the completion of sitting assembly’s 5 year term on July 22.

“We are finalizing arrangements for the polls and as the new voter lists will be ready by the end of March I can safely say that at anytime after April 15 we will be all set to announce the schedule,” Chief Election Commissioner Khawaja Muhammad Saeed told this correspondent.

He said it was EC’s prerogative to announce the date of polls between May 23 and July 8, but, nevertheless, he would make a decision in this regard in consultation with all political parties.

The ruling Muslim Conference had been maintaining ambiguity over its plans and desire for the election date but the two major opposition parties were unequivocally in favour of last week of May for holding of polls.

“The last week of May is an ideal time for election because the temperature during that period is neither too hot nor too cold,” said Raja Farooq Haider, chief organizer of PML-N in AJK.

“We support this date also because it should be the right of the next government to prepare next fiscal year’s budget according to its manifesto. And that can happen only if the general election is held on May 25,” he said.

Leader of the opposition in AJK Assembly and Peoples Party AJK president Chaudhry Abdul Majeed echoed Mr Haider’s views, saying his party also wanted the polls to be held on May 25.

“We will formally ask the Election Commission to consider this date.”

When this correspondent asked Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan as to when the election should be held, he did not give a clear reply.

“Either it can be held in the last week of May or the last week of June,” he said.

When told that the opposition termed the last week of May climatically ideal for polls, he tersely responded: “Ideal weather is either in April or in September.”

However, Mr Haider made it clear that election date could not be taken beyond July 8 and accused the prime minister of creating confusion and ambiguity to “gain political mileage.”

It may be mentioned here that around 2.8 million voters have been registered to elect their representatives in 41 assembly constituencies, 29 of which are located in AJK territory and the rest in the four provinces of Pakistan.

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Ex AJK presidents to be given additional perks

Overlooking the serious financial crunch that has hit the entire country, the AJK finance department has given concurrence to the provision of an official vehicle, house rent and a certain amount of fuel to the region’s former presidents on the pattern of former prime ministers.

In line with the approval, the law department has been tasked to propose requisite amendments to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir ex-Presidents (Salary, Allowances, Privileges) Act, 1975 to pave way for provision of these facilities to the prospective beneficiaries.

The former AJK presidents, it may be recalled, are entitled to Rs 30,000 as monthly pension , Rs 5000 for monthly telephone expenses and services of a driver-cum gunman from the AJK police and a stenographer and orderly from the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).

For long, the AJK presidents also used to avail themselves of a privilege of importing one duty free car during their term like that of the provincial governors but that privilege was withdrawn by the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under his reforms shortly after the nuke tests in 1998.

However, in September 2004, the then AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat shrewdly inserted two amendments in the AJK Ministers (Salaries, Allowances, Privileges) Act 1975 whereby, for the first time, the former prime ministers in AJK were also entitled to some benefits from the taxpayers money, regardless of the length of their tenure. These benefits included one official car, official accommodation or Rs 25000 per month as rent, 400 litres of petrol (or its cost) per month and a driver-cum-gunman.

Instantly, former premiers Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan (1991 -1996) and Barrister Sultan Mahmood (1996-2001) became the beneficiaries of this amendment. Mr Hayat was provided these privileges after his second term in the coveted office expired in July 2006.

Mr Qayyum and Mr Hayat also claim pensions of a former president.

However, the ‘benevolent law’ about the former premiers did not go well with the then AJK President Maj-Gen (retired) Sardar Anwar Khan who felt he had been left out in the cold.

Perhaps, it was why he withheld a 2005 model Toyota Corolla Saloon car of president’s secretariat, in sheer violation of law, at the end of his 5-year term in August 2006.

All these years, sources said, Mr Anwar Khan had been desperately arguing before the concerned quarters that if a former prime minister could be provided an official car why a former president couldn’t enjoy the same privilege.

As the sitting Legislative Assembly has seen three prime ministers – Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Sardar Yaqoob Khan and Raja Farooq Haider - in four elections, the S&GAD has provided same privileges to them as well.

In all, sources said, five former primers were currently enjoying the facility of an official vehicle, a driver cum gunman, Rs 25000 and 400 litres of petrol (or cost) per month. The incumbent premier was likely to rejoin this elite group whenever he vacates this office.

Last year, sources said, the incumbent President Raja Zulqarnain Khan had twice written to the law department to initiate requisite legislation for provision of same facilities to a former head of the state as well, apart from pension etc.

“We were under a constant pressure to give financial concurrence to provision of these facilities,” said a finance department official.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however added that his department had put a condition that these privileges would be provided in only one capacity if even someone had held both the offices.

When asked if any action would be taken against Sardar Anwar Khan for unauthorized retention of an official vehicle for five years, he said it was something to be dealt by the Ehtesab Bureau.

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AJK Law Minister trampling rules for induction of son

MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 22: An influential member of the AJK cabinet is consistently using his clout to get his son appointed as a gazetted officer in sheer disregard to relevant rules and reservations by the concerned officials.

Documents made available to this correspondent and background interviews revealed that Sardar Sayab Khalid, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, had been twisting he arms of electricity secretariat officials since long for the appointment of his son, Shehzad Khalid, as assistant engineer in BPS-17.

Succumbing to the pressure, the secretariat issued a ‘notification’ on December 11, appointing his son as sub-divisional officer (SDO) in Rawalakot.

However, neither did the notification mention basis of the appointment (ad-hoc or contractual) nor did it say anything about the fate of the incumbent SDO, Muhammad Imtiaz.

The ‘notification’ after being challenged by Mr Imtiaz was suspended by the Service Tribunal on December 20. However, before the tribunal could pass a final judgment, the law minister, in the meanwhile, managed issuance of a fresh notification from the electricity secretariat on January 15, whereby Mr Shehzad was ‘appointed’ as SDO Thorar in place of one Fazle Rabbi, who was transferred to Bagh.

Electricity department’s chief engineer (CE) Mushtaq Gaursi admitted before this correspondent that the appointment orders were flawed but said his office had never moved any such proposals.

According to witnesses and sources, the law minister had been personally visiting the chambers of the officials concerned and pressing them to issue the notifications about his son’s induction as per his will.

Credentials of Mr Shehzad revealed that he had studied BE (electrical) in University College of Engineering and Technology (UCET) Mirpur after securing less than 46 per cent marks in the FSc in 1995.

His session in the UCET ended in 1999 but he earned his degree in 2004 after appearing in supplementary exams between 2003 and 2004 and that too after being granted ‘special chances’ by the varsity.

In June 2002, when his qualification was simply FSc, he was appointed on temporary basis as sub-engineer (BPS-11) in the electricity department for six months. He had falsely claimed that he had appeared in the final exam of BE (Electrical) and was waiting for his result. As he could not provide his degree after six months, the temporary appointment as sub engineer was never renewed but he continued the job, exercising the powers of SDO, until the AJK Ehtesab Bureau took stock of it in May 2004. Mr Shehzad had also obtained a pre-arrest bail from the AJK High Court on May 26, 2004, to preempt any action by the bureau.

His father happened to be the Legislative Assembly speaker in those days.

Interestingly, the formal endorsement of that temporary service without formal orders was sought by Mr Shehzad in May 2010 after almost six years.

In May 2005, Mr Shehzad was appointed as ad-hoc assistant engineer (BPS-17) in the electricity department against the quota of Kashmiri refugees but when his service was terminated in June 2006 by CE he got interim relief from the apex court.

In June 2007, he was appointed on contractual basis in a foreign funded project where he continued till August last year. At the close of project he submitted a ‘joining report’ in the CE’s office which was rejected on the grounds that he was never a permanent employee of the department.

However, notwithstanding the CE’s stance, the law minister kept on pressuring that his son be regularized and promoted as ‘assistant engineer’ on the basis of his service as sub-engineer for “three years.”

Sources pointed out that Mr Shehzad had mentioned fake dates in his applications about his previous jobs, either on temporary or on ad-hoc basis, in a bid to prove there was no gap in his service.

The law minister had also got issued a favourable “legal opinion” for his son from the law secretariat. A source in the law secretariat confided to this correspondent that the opinion was formed “on the basis of the available record” and that they could hardly go against the interests of their minister.

Sources also disclosed that Mr Khalid had also threatened former Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider against resignation from the cabinet if his son was not inducted. However, his efforts remained unsuccessful mainly due to strong resistance by the then secretary electricity Akram Sohail.

When quizzed about the case, the electricity minister Mirza Shafique Jaral tried to bail himself out by saying he had always passed directions that the case should be processed according to the rules.

When the law minister was asked as to how his son could be inducted as SDO without fulfillment of criteria, he claimed that the case had been properly processed.

However, as more questions were put to him in the light of the documents available with Dawn, the minister lost his cool.

“Don’t write anything on my behalf. You can write whatever you want,” he said and hung up the phone.

It may be recalled that Mr Khalid has often been accused of favourtism while holding official positions. In September 2004, he had also got his son, nephew and brother-in-law appointed in the Legislative Assembly secretariat as gazetted officers through a departmental selection committee which he headed as speaker.

ends