Islamabad, (Parliament Times): Jammu Kashmir People’s Party President and Member Legislator Assembly Sardar Hasan Ibrahim Khan has demanded the government of Pakistan to pay special attention to solving the basic problems of Azad Kashmir, including additional taxes on electricity bills and increase in prices of necessities of life.
It should be reduced immediately, The federal government should provide electricity in Azad Kashmir at production cost and increase the quota of flour, and sugar, and give subsidies. The Federation can not impose taxes in Azad Kashmir which are mandatory under international treaties, Kashmir is a disputed territory and the Federal and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Governments are responsible for providing subsidies to the people there, he said.
Due to general inflation, a man is losing two daily bread and education and health facilities, which has to be remedied immediately, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure the provision of basic facilities of life, he said while holding a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad.
The daily rising inflation has made it impossible for the white-clad class and the poor people to get two meals a day. It is the right of the people to protest for their legitimate demands. The people of Pakistan, especially Azad Kashmir, are protesting against the electricity bills, the coming crisis, and inflation, which is a popular movement above any political and ideological commitment that we fully support, he said.
Huge increases in prices of petrol, electricity bills, sugar, and other essentials should be withdrawn immediately, and additional taxes on electricity bills and prices of essentials should be reduced immediately. The Azad Kashmir government will have to use its management skills, The people are being harmed by the political chaos, the Azad Kashmir government should provide relief to the people with immediate measures, and the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir should reconcile the issues of additional taxes in the electricity bills with the Federation so that people’s anxiety can be removed and relief can be given, he demanded.
In Azad Kashmir, three Prime Ministers have changed in five years, The freedom movement is being damaged, but the country’s economy is being severely damaged, so the current setup should be completed democratically, he said.