“Says defeated minds trying to create confusion by unleashing negative propaganda”
Muzaffarabad: (Parliament Times) Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan has said that all the financial, administrative and legislative powers have been transfer from Kashmir council to AJK Government after thirteen amendments in the interim constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Act 1974.
“Some defeated minds are trying to create confusion by unleashing a negative propaganda about thirteenth amendments that was passed after taking into confidence all stakeholders,” said Prime Minister at a news conference held at Prime Minister Secretariat on Thursday. He said that 13th amendment was approved by federal cabinet and national security committee of the federal government and there was no reason to cast aspersions on this important decision of vital national interest. The Prime Minister said that some of the employees of Kashmir Council and those whose’ interests were linked with the Council are engaged in the propaganda against the thirteenth amendments to create confusion.
He said that AJK Government might order to conduct forensic audit of the Council’s development projects carried out in past ten years to expose corruption and wrong doings. He added that the amendments in constitution would further cement working relationship between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.
Brushing aside the impression that thirteenth amendments could be reversed, Farooq Haider Khan said that two-third majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly is required to reverse the amendment. He said that after the amendment in the constitution AJK Government has got full powers to collect the taxes within the territorial jurisdiction of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that those who are opposing the amendments should sit with the government to make improvements in the constitution instead of wasting their energy in the futile exercise.
He admitted that there are some complications in transfers and division of powers, which he said is natural phenomena; however we are trying our best to resolve the contentious issues amicably with the federal government.
The Prime Minister went on to say that some employees of the council want to get such law passed that exempt them from any kind of accountability of their past wrong doings including their induction in the council.