Impeding the success of the no-confidence motion

PTI Azad Kashmir workers seemed practically indifferent to the announcements of PTI’s Jail Bharu Tehreek, only former Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan announced the arrest. While the efforts of the no-confidence movement in Azad Kashmir for the past one year by the opposition have now entered a new phase. Many conspiratorial stories are echoed in this regard. According to sources, former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has now taken the issues of no-confidence motion against the government of Azad Kashmir.

It is also being said that the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir has offered Asif Ali Zardari that he is ready to do whatever Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry can do for the People’s Party. Therefore, in the matter of joining People’s Party, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry should be preferred. However, the ongoing long game of no-confidence motion in Azad Kashmir is expected to reach its logical conclusion this year.

If we take a quick look at the internal conditions of Azad Kashmir, on the one hand, like Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, the seventh census and house enumeration has started in Azad Kashmir from March 1, and on the other hand, Azad Kashmir is facing the worst inflation on the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Kashmir. State-wide protests were held in Kashmir. The speakers said that organized protest movement will be started at the next stage. The majority of the people of Azad Kashmir believe that the main problem of Azad Kashmir is economic and political instability, the kingly spending of the rulers and unbearable inflation.

In Azad Kashmir, the white-clad classes are being economically murdered day in and day out due to inflation, while the poor man has no option other than suicide and crime. The purchasing power of the common man has responded. The activities of the Azad Kashmir government and the opposition have been limited to the Legislative Assembly (Muzaffarabad) and the Kashmir House (Islamabad). There is no happy situation for the people of Azad Kashmir. Occupying forces have been brutalizing the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019.

If no one from Azad Kashmir will take to the streets in their favor, then it is futile to expect from the UNO and the international community. The abolition of the office of All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the changing of the name of the historic ‘Mughal Garden’ while in Azad Kashmir the work on amending the national anthem of Azad Kashmir after the name change of the Kashmir Liberation Cell is just a coincidence. Nothing more can be said than that. However, after 31 years on the orders of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court, the local body elections in Azad Kashmir, which have been going through surprisingly different stages for the past 2 months, are now at the final stage. The Commission has announced the schedule for the elections of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Vice Chairman on March 2.

The good thing is that after the consensus on the Kashmir issue, the government and the opposition seem united in their demand for another 10-day extension in the ongoing schedule. The serious school of thought says that the Azad Kashmir government seems to be complaining about cuts in the development budget every day. As the Federal Cabinet has decided to voluntarily not take salaries and allowances and pay utility bills from their own pockets, all Federal Ministers, Advisors, Ministers of State and Special Assistants in view of the financial crisis. Azad Kashmir cabinet should also follow this good example and give up the purchase of new model vehicles and announce not to take benefits and salaries. And by giving relief to the poor people with this saving money, they can reduce their problems.

Chief Justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Saeed Akram Khan headed by “State Judicial Policy Making Committee” comprising Senior Judge Supreme Court Justice Khawaja Mee Naseem (Member), Chief Justice High Court Sadaqat Hussain Raja (Member) and Justice Mian Arif Hussain. The committee took very important decisions. In the 13th session of the committee, apart from expressing heartfelt sympathy and prayers for forgiveness to those who were martyred and injured during the earthquake in Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, the respected judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, during their 5 days, subordinate judiciary grade 20 and above. Officers have decided to donate 3 days, all other employees of the judiciary below grade 20, 2 days basic salary to the earthquake victims of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon.

Despite the decision taken in the last session, retired personalities and heads/officers of some other state institutions, Supreme Court, High Court/Shariat Court are using official symbols, flag rods, monograms, green plates etc. The committee directed the “Secretary Judicial Policy Making Committee” to issue letters to all retired persons in sealed envelopes informing them that this practice is illegal.

If this is not implemented then the flag rods etc. should be removed by the district administration. This decision of the “State Judicial Policy Making Committee” is widely appreciated by the legal community and the public. Due to non-checking of police noses in the guise of illegal flag rods, monograms etc., anti-social elements can become a challenge to the state by taking undue advantage.