Mirza, Lord Nazir involved in dubious tactics, says AJK govt

Mirza, Lord Nazir involved in dubious tactics, says AJK govt

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 24: The Azad Kashmir cabinet on Thursday censured elements who the ministers said were involved in “negative activities” against Pakistan in foreign lands.

At a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, the cabinet took exception to “palace intrigues against democracy and democratic institutions in the Islamic Republic” by former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza and Lord Nazir Ahmed.

“The Azad Kashmir government reserves the right to take legal action against Lord Nazir Ahmed and declares him a persona non grata,” read a resolution passed by the cabinet.

However, when Finance Minister Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who briefed the journalists on cabinet decisions, was asked if a formal notification was issued regarding Lord Ahmed’s declaration as an unacceptable or unwelcome person in the AJK, he replied in the negative.

Insiders told Dawn that since Lord Ahmed had been facilitating Dr Mirza’s programmes in the UK, the AJK government was directed from Islamabad to speak up against him.

This was perhaps why several electronic media correspondents were initially given the “breaking news” by the government that the AJK government was contemplating revoking Lord Ahmed`s (Kashmir) citizenship. However, when legal and constitutional experts warned the government against the possibility of any such move, it stepped back and opted for a mere denunciation of Lord Ahmed at the cabinet meeting.

Apart from that, the cabinet shrugged off criticism by some quarters against the grant of the MFN status to India, maintaining that the decision was destined to have far-reaching effects on South Asian region`s progress and prosperity. It, however, reiterated the resolve of the Kashmiri and Pakistani people to leave no stone unturned to achieve the right to self-determination.

“The cabinet condemns India`s state-sponsored terrorism in occupied Kashmir and reiterates that the government and the people of Azad Kashmir will continue their political, diplomatic and moral support to their valiant brethren across the Line of Control until their struggle reached its logical end,” it said.

The cabinet paid tribute to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for “crystal clear and categorical stand” on Kashmir and “successful foreign policy” of their government.

It also expressed satisfaction over the performance of the AJK government in the first 100 days and vowed to carry on its mission of public service by exploiting all resources of the state.

The cabinet was also briefed by Wapda chairman Shakil Durrani, who attended the meeting on a special invitation by Prime Minister Majeed, on under-construction and upcoming hydropower projects in AJK.

It endorsed an amendment to Rules of Business to re-delegate powers to ministers for transfers of government servants in BPS-17 and 18. (Dawn)