Muzaffarabad (POJK), Oct 4 (NVI) Just five days of mass movement in occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) unnerved Pakistan to the extent that it was compelled to accept most of the demands, some of them partially like the one related to a provision by which the rulers in Islamabad would make mockery of the local Assembly.
Even though the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC), which spearheaded the ‘campaign for rights’, agreed to end the agitation, the demand related to 12 seats reserved in the local Assembly for ‘Refugees’ from POJK to Pakstan’ was not met completely.
The JK-JAAC had demanded that the provision should be abolished as the Pakistani rulers fill these 12 seats in the 53-member Assembly with their own puppets, even with no connection with refugees, and through them governments of POJK are made and toppled.
Because of these 12 seats, the POJK Assembly virtually remains a hostage to the rulers in Islamabad.
Under the agreement reached between the Awami Action Committee and the Government of Pakistan and the Government of POJK, none of the 12 ‘refugee’ members will get Ministerial berths or funds. Accordingly, 8 current ministers in the ‘refugee’ category will be dismissed.
It was also decided that the number of Cabinet members in POJK will be reduced from 36 to 20 and the number of 32 departments will be reduced to 20.
But with regard to abolition of the Refugee seats, a decision will be taken by a high-level committee, comprising two Federal ministers, two ministers of POJK and two members of the Action Committee.
Therefore, this dagger continues to dangle on the governments of POJK.
The Pakistan government also agreed to reduce pensions of judges, former presidents, prime ministers, ministers, members of the assembly and benefits of government officials included in the ‘elite’ category.
This committee will conduct a complete monitoring of the Azad Kashmir government and will meet every 15 days to review this agreement and ensure its implementation.
The heirs of the protesters killed on October 1 and 2 will be given very reasonable financial assistance under the Martyrs Package and a government job per family while those injured would get Rs 10 lakh each.
All payments and jobs will be provided within 20 days.
FIRs will be registered against those responsible for loss of life and violence under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and a judicial commission will also be formed if necessary.
The Pakistan government also agreed to quash all the cases registered against the leaders and activists of Awami Action Committee and citizens during the protest movement starting May 19, 2023.
Within 30 days, two new intermediate and secondary education boards will be established in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions and all education boards will be linked to the Federal Board, Islamabad.
A uniform education system and uniform merit will be established across the state. A code of conduct will be formulated within three months for the revival of student organizations.
For the improvement of mobile services, Rs 8 billion will be used and mobile packages and their quality will be made equivalent to Islamabad.
The lands of the affected families of the Mangla Dam Raising Project will be legalized and registered within 30 days.
To fully empower the local government representatives and transfer all local government funds, the ‘Local Government Act of Azad Kashmir’ will be restored in its original form (1990) and the decisions of the Supreme Court will be fully implemented within 90 days.
Funds will be released within 15 days for the implementation and activation of health cards for all the people of Azad Kashmir, MRI and CT scan machines will be provided in phases in the hospitals of every district and every tehsil, the costs of which will be borne by the Government of Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan will provide Rs 10 billion for the improvement of the electricity system, the detailed plan of which will be released.
The Awami Action Committee will fully cooperate with the Electricity Department in dealing with electricity theft, metering of the Electricity Department, disconnection of illegal connections and payment of arrears throughout Azad Kashmir.
To crack down on corrupt elements, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Establishment will be merged and the ‘Accountability Act’ of POJK will be made in accordance with the NAB laws of Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan will conduct a feasibility study for the construction of two tunnels on the Neelum Valley Road at Kahuri/Kamsar and Chaplani, which will be built on top priority under the Saudi Development Fund.
The time frame for the establishment of an international airport in Mirpur will be announced in the current financial year.
Property tax will be made equal to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which will be implemented in three months. Advance tax will be reduced on the lines of Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA.
Feasibility study of projects for providing clean drinking water in 10 districts will be completed in the current financial year and funds will be released for setting up operation theatres and nursery units in all tehsil headquarters hospitals.
Two new bridges will be constructed at Gulpur and Rehman (Kotli) for public convenience and water supply scheme and transmission line project for Kashmir Colony of Dadial will be included in the development programme.
Ownership rights will be given to the refugees of Mandoor Colony Dadial. Kahuta-Azad Patan road will be repaired and constructed within the limits of Sudhanuti. (NVI)
