S. A Haidri
Muzaffarabad: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir cabinet meeting here on Tuesday approved to authenticate the applicable laws in Pakistan regarding the finality of Prophethood Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W.W and a 5 member committee was formed headed by Minister for Law AJK for the implementation of these laws in AJK.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan was attended by Senior Minister Ch. Tariq Farooq, Ministers Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan, Ch. Muhammad Aziz, Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Sardar Mir Akbar, Mrs. Noreen Arif, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, Sardar Farooq Sikander, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, Ch. Muhammad Saeed, Nasir Hussain Dar and Advisor K.B Khan, whereas, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary development, Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), Secretaries and other pertinent officers were present in the meeting.
The Committee for the finality of Prophet Hood (S.A.W.W) and implementation of laws regarding this has been made under the supervision of Minister for Law Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan comprised on Members Legislative Assembly Syed Ali Raza Bukhari, Raja Muhammad Siddique and Secretary Law Irshad Qureshi and Advocate General Raza Ali Khan.
It was decided in the meeting to reduce tax payments and a committee headed by Minister for Finance has been set up to review Stamp duty, Transfer of Registration Tax and other local taxes and this committee will submit their report within a month. This committee consists of Minister for Revenue Farooq Sikander, SMBR Fayyaz Ali Abbasi, Secretary Finance Fareed Tarrar, and Secretary Law Irshad Qureshi.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Bureau Act (Amended) and Criminal Law Act 2017 (amended) has also been approved, designation of Deputy Chairman Accountability Court has been eliminated in Accountability Bureau Act amended while in Criminal Law Act ensured safety for force marriages and set imprisonment of 3 to 5 years besides implementing fine up to 0.5 million rupees.
Cabinet meeting maintained the decision of subsidy on flour, another decision has been made to create a committee regarding grant of 10% reduction in grant in aid to the development organizations which will submit the report by reviewing all the matters.
The decision of immediate completion of water supply scheme and sewage system in Mirpur has been taken in addition of taking notice on extra payments of Package 5, 7 and 8 in Mangla Up raising Scheme.
Instructions have been issued for immediate completion of the issuing inquiry reports against the government officers and the concerned authorities have been given 2 months to complete the process.
While addressing the cabinet session, PM AJK Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that the inquiry against government officials should be completed as soon as possible so that the punishment and penalty can be decided according to the law, the report must be presented within in two months.
In the cabinet session, Chief Secretary was instructed on the public complaints against force load shedding by talking to the Federal Ministry of Water and Power to eliminate load shedding in AJK.
The cabinet was communicated that contracts were cancelled for water supply and sewage schemes in Mirpur and additional payment of 1 billion 300 million rupees has been revealed by the third party verification. Committee has been set up in the case to find out the persons involved in it.
Cabinet members also apprised the Prime Minister that 2.8 billion rupees are required for completion of public projects under Mangla-upraising while water supply scheme cannot be completed due to water shortage in Mirpur.
The Prime Minister said that the people of Mirpur are the victims of Mangla upraising who twice sacrificed for Pakistan and incumbent government will facilitate them at any cost. “The references against the contractors have already sent to accountability court and proceedings against the accused are on final stage, those who are involved in negligence will not be forgiven but punished.” PM stated.
PM AJK added “Now the food control authority has been established, which will provide the quality of standard food items to the public.”