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List of the Candidates of 3 prominent political parties of AJK | AJK polls

 
 

Constituencies in Azad Kashmir | AJK Polls

MIR PUR DISTRICT

1 LA-1, MIROURE-1
The whole Tehsil of Dadyal.

2 LA-II, MIR PURE-II
The following patwar circles of Mirpur Tehsil:

 
 

List of PPP candidates in AJK elections 2011

 
 

Attique predicts MC landslide in AJK polls


MIRPUR (AJK) - AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has said that a landslide electoral victory of his Muslim Conference is keenly awaited by the people of Azad Jammu Kashmir as well as Pakistan-based Jammu & Kashmir refugees.“The MC will emerge as the single majority party in the scheduled June 26 AJK Legislative Assembly elections for 41 seats of the legislature and form the next government in AJK as well,” Attique said while addressing a mammoth gathering of the citizens of Mirpur held in connection with the election campaign of Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf the party’s candidate in the elections from Mirpur city LA-III here the other night.

 
 

AJK polls: CNIC punching decision withdrawn


MUZAFFARABAD, June 16: The AJK Election Commission has withdrawn its earlier decision to punch a small hole in the computerised national identity cards (CNIC) of voters due to some ‘unavoidable reasons’, raising fears of double polling by thousands of people who have got themselves enlisted at more than one place.According to an amended law, production of CNIC is a must for the voter to obtain his/her ballot paper and the EC had initially announced that it would use special machines to punch a (small) hole in the CNIC in order to foil double voting.However, the commission retracted its announcement the other day on the grounds that it was impracticable for two reasons: firstly, the punching machines were not available in Pakistan and secondly a big majority of electorate had serious reservations against getting their CNIC punched.

 
 

Don’t interfere in AJK polls, Pak govt, politicians warned


SIALKOT - Socio-political circles and refugees settled in various parts of Sialkot have strongly apposed the interference of government and Pakistani political parties in the forthcoming general elections of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.“Political parties and government have no right to poke their nose in internal political affairs of AJK as well as to patronise the turncoats by Pakistani political parties,” they said. “It is very unfortunate that some top leaders including the Punjab Governor and ministers openly seeking support and bagging vote for the candidates nominated by the PPP contesting from Pakistan. Why they are active in AJK elections?” they questioned.

 
 

JUI-MC alliance to bring positive results in AJK polls


ISLAMABAD - A candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK, on Wednesday withdrew on LA-35 (Jammu-IV from Rawalpindi, Attock and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in favour of Sardar Abdul Razzaq, Muslim Conference candidate, while six independent candidates withdrew in favour of Raja Siddique, candidate of PML-N in the same constituency.

 
 

JKPP sets education top priority


ISLAMABAD - Jammu Kashmir People’s Party (JK-PP) headed by Sardar Khalid Ibrahim is contesting elections in AJK on the basis of five-point manifesto.While talking to TheNation, JK-PP Secretary General Dr Kaleem said that real issues being faced by the Kashmiri people had been taken as priority in the manifesto. 

 
 

Bus crash kills 14 children in Azad Kashmir


MUZAFFARABAD (June 10) : At least 14 children were killed and three others wounded when the bus taking them to school plunged into a canal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday, an official said. Assistant Commissioner Bhimber Ali Asghar said the accident took place in Head Ali Baig town of AJK.

 
 

AJK presents Rs44.55 bn tax-free deficit budget


MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Kashmir government announced Monday an overall consolidated tax-free budget of Rs44.55 billion for the fiscal year 2011-12 with a development outlay of over Rs8.28 billion and a deficit of 5.06 billion.Azad Kashmir Finance Minister Abdul Rasheed Abbasi presented the budget in the AJK Legislative Assembly as the last budget of this government since the general elections in AJK are scheduled to be held on June 26.

 
 

PPP, PML-Q decide to extend alliance to Azad Kashmir polls



ISLAMABAD: In a bid to bring a paradigm shift in the politics of the AJK region, particularly in the upcoming elections in Azad Kashmir, the PPP and PML-Q Wednesday decided to extend their coalition to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, agreeing to support each other’s candidates in the elections.

 
 

AJK elections: KLP jumps into fray



ISLAMABAD: 
Kashmir Labour Party (KLP) will take part in the forthcoming general election of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly scheduled for June 26, said a press release of the party here on Sunday.

 
 

AJK PM addresses Kashmir conf, invites Manmohan to Muzaffarabad


Hameed Shaheen

pmsajk.jpg 
AJK PM receives Prime Minister of Pakistan at Muzaffarabad.

MUZAFFARABAD: Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has cautioned that there existed no other option than “reaching a peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute” as both Pakistan and India were nuclear powers in the same neighborhood of South Asia.

 
 

AJK BISE warns of punitive action




MIRPUR (AJK) - Azad Jammu Kashmir Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has warned all the unregistered private-sector educational institutions (including schools and colleges) to get their institutions registered with the board immediately or be ready for punitive action in accordance with the relevant law, official sources said.

 
 

‘Mango politics’ ahead of AJK polls



SIALKOT - The “mango politics” are on its peak by the candidates ahead of the coming elections of AJK Legislative Assembly. The candidates were busy in holding the mango parties or sending the political “gifts” of the mangoes to lure their voters and supporters as well here. The candidates have geared up their election campaign in different constituencies located in Sialkot district for the elections of Azad Jammu & Kashmir legislative Assembly after depositing their nomination papers, in this regard.

 
 

Muslim Conference, JUI (F) join hand in AJK elections


ISLAMABAD, May 31 (APP) - All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and AJK Jamiat Ulama Islam (F) forged alliance for AJK elections of Legislative Assembly being held on June 26. Addressing a press conference here Tuesday, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan said this alliance was the long cherished desire of JUI-F’s chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman and himself as well. The AJK Prime Minister pinned high hopes on Muslim Conference and JUI (F)’s alliance to be instrumental in wielding interfaith harmony, political stability as well as positive impacts on both sides of the divide.

 
 

Muslim Conference to support PPP AJK chief in elections



MIRPUR (AJK), June 1 (APP): The incumbent ruling All Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference have categorically announced its unflinching support to the PPP’s candidate Ch. Abdul Majeed in the upcoming elections in his electoral constituency, Mirpur LA-II (Islamgarh Chakswari). This was revealed by the top Muslim Conference (MC) leader Raja Nijabat Hussain while addressing a news conference at Kashmir Press Club here Wednesday.

 
 

Tourism season at peak in Northern Areas



Islamabad—Tourism season is at peak in Northern Areas of the country and will remain till September. Arrival of tourists is getting momentum from various cities of the country to enjoy their summer holidays in hilly areas. While Murree, Aubyia, Nathiagali, Azad Kashmir, Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu, where the weather is pleasant the air is fresh, the valleys are green and the river waters are refreshingly cool.


 
 

APHC leader lauds Altaf’s stance over Kashmir issue



KARACHI: The representative of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) of occupied Kashmir Aga Hassan Badgami has said that Muttahid aQaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain had adopted a principled stand concerning the struggle of Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination.


 
 

Rulers have still not learnt any lessons from two vital issues: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: PML-N head Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed his great disappointment, that rulers had still not learnt any lessons from two very serious major issues of American incursion in Abbottabad and attack on PNS Mehran.Addressing a meeting of PML-N ticket holders for legislative Assembly of Jammu/Azad Kashmir on Friday, he warned the rulers to mend their ways, which were not conducive for good-governance and ruling ethics.

 
 

Parties gearing up for electoral alliances

MIRPUR (AJK) - With the announcement of schedule for general elections in Azad Jammu Kashmir, the electioneering by the intending contestants including independent candidates and political parties as well as the general public including supporters is swiftly gaining momentum across the state.

 
 

Unicef opens 16 schools in Azad Kashmir


Published: May 26, 2011
EU funded project aims to rehabilitate and modernise education system.
MUZAFFARABAD: 
Unicef formally opened 16 new primary schools in a ceremony in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, as part of an ambitious program to construct almost 700 schools following the devastating 2005 earthquake.

 
 

PM Gilani meets Azad Kashmir business magnet

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has met the business magnet from Azad Kashmir, Nadeem Azad Khan.

 
 

'Water Rights' on Jhelum River

India and Pakistan are both building hydroelectric dams along an upper branch of the Indus river, only 70 kilometres apart from each other. India is building 800MW power house on the Kishanganga River that originates in Indian Occupied Kashmir, with a plea to solve the problem of navigation over a distance of 22-kilometre between the Wullar Lake and Baramula connecting Srinagar with Baramula.

 
 

Eight killed by bus accident in Sudhnoti area of AJK

At least eight people were killed while 15 others were injured when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Azad Pattan area of Azad Kashmir in Sudhnoti district, on early Monday May 9, police sources said.

 
 

More administrative provinces be formed: Attique

AttiqueAzad Kashmir PM says 40 provinces could be formed in Pakistan

More provinces should be formed on administrative basis in order to handle the state of affairs and everybody is looking to join the federal government, which might not be good for the country, Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed said on Sunday.

 
 

Tremor jolts towns near LoC in AJK

A moderate earthquake hit the areas adjacent to the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Kashmir on Thursday morning but no causality was reported. According to the reports, the quake of lower intensity was felt in the border areas of Chanari, Chakthi, Bagh and Neelam Valley at 7:18am on Thursday. According to the Met Office the epicenter of the quake was Baramula in Held Kashmir and its intensity was 2.4 on the Richter scale. No casualty was reported from any part of Azad Kashmir.

 
 

PML-N & JI to contest AJK elections jointly: Nawaz

PML-N & JI to contest AJK elections jointly: NawazFormer Prime Minister and Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that federal government should end its interference in elections of Azad Kashmir, adding that Muslim League-N would participate in the election with the Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

 
 

Azad Kashmir Prime Minister for UK’s role in solution of Kashmir issue

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan has urged Great Britain to lead international initiative on untangling the Kashmir issue.Speaking at a round table conference on ‘Indo-Pak relations and impediments to a way forward on Kashmir’ at the British Parliament here last evening, he pointed out that Kashmir issue is a legacy of the British colonial rule in the sub-continent and therefore the country muster diplomatic and political backing of the entire international community in resolving this 63-year-old question.“The strategic location of the State of Jammu and Kashmir demands a robust international role for a final, peaceful negotiated settlement.It needs geo-pragmatic approach,” he said.

 
 

Female Athlete from Azad Kashmir goes Missing in Lahore

LAHORE: A female athlete from Azad Kashmir, who reportedly came to Lahore to take part in the 43rd National Athletics Championship, which concluded at the Punjab Stadium here on Thursday, has gone missing, well informed sources told on the condition of anonymity.

 
 

Strong Kashmir to fortify Pakistan: Iftikhar Riaz lauds Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s sacrifices

PESHAWAR (APP): Taking to the visiting Azad Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Information, Environment and Overseas Kashmiris, Mehmood Riaz, and Abdul Majid Khan on Wednesday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussein to Mian Iftikhar said that provincial autonomy does not mean succession from Pakistan as it is our identity, saying that strong provinces would make Pakistan strong. He said that they want a strong Kashmir that will strengthen Pakistan.

 
 

Azad Kashmir: Work on mega road project suspended

MUZAFFARABAD: The construction on the largest road project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was halted as the technical staff launched a protest.Some 55 members of the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Programme (EEAP), which is working on the 76-kilometre-long Muzaffarabad-Athmuqam Road, have gone

 
 

Blast in oil depot kills one, hurts five in Azad Kashmir

GULPUR: A powerful explosion in an oil depot has killed one man and left five others injured in Gul Pur area located in the outskirt of Kotli locality of Azad Kashmir late on Thursday night.

According to reports, the blast occurred in Gul Pur area of Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Explosion followed the fierce blaze that engulfed as many as six men, burning one to death and leaving five others critically wounded.

 
 

AJK electioneering: Impending elections generate excitement



MIRPUR: Candidates for the forthcoming general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), while waiting for the final schedule, have begun electioneering.Various political parties have started consultations to form electoral alliances with field candidates independently or otherwise in the elections, which are like to be held in the next three months.

 
 

AJK elections to be free, fair: Firdous

April 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Sunday that the next elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) would be held in a fair and free manner. Addressing a press conference here, she said that all political parties were united for the Kashmir cause and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had always raised voice for Kashmiris’ rights, without giving any consideration to political interests.

 
 

Mercury dropping: Rain causes landslides in Azad Kashmir, G-B


Heavy rain on Sunday triggered landslides across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Balistan (G-B). Muzaffarabad, the capital of AJK, received 31 millimetres (mm) of rain, while Rawalakot received 48 mm.

Temperatures in Gilgit plummeted down to zero degrees Celsius. The rains also caused landslides in various areas of G-B and AJK, disrupting road links.

 
 

Pakistan: Kohala project given to Chinese firm without bidding

ISLAMABAD, April 14 -- The government has given the contract for 1,100 MW Kohala Hydropower Project to a Chinese firm, setting aside the Pakistan Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and without holding International Competitive Bidding (ICB), well-placed official sources told media.

The decision to award the contract to the Chinese company came soon after the recent visit of Cao Guanging, the chairman of the state-owned China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC),

 
 

Intra-Kashmir bus service completes six years

MUZAFFARABAD:
The intra-Kashmir bus service, which completes six years this year, has served to reunite 15,976 Kashmiris divided by the Line of Control (LoC).

Officials from Indian Kashmir and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) exchanged greetings and sweets at the LoC bridge in Chakothi to mark the sixth anniversary of the bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar that began on April 7, 2005, as a confidence-building measure between sparring India and Pakistan. Initially started as a fortnightly service, in August 2008, buses began travelling on a weekly basis. Following the service’s success, another bus service was launched on June 6, 2006, between Rawalakot in Pakistan and Poonch in India.


 
 

Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital in AJK becomes operational



An eye hospital, the first of its kind has become operational in Azad Kashmir. The state-of-the-art hospital, established by Al-Shifa Eye Trust in Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad Kashmir, will provide latest treatment facilities to the people of AJK. It is the fourth eye-care facility opened by the trust in Pakistan, along with an under construction hospital in Quetta. “The hospital started functioning on Tuesday and it will endow the masses with access to modern eye treatment,” said Col (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed, Executive Director of the hospital.

 
 

Chinese troops in AJK? India closely monitoring border



NEW DELHI: Amid reports of Chinese presence in Azad Kashmir, India Wednesday said it closely and regularly monitors all developments along its borders even as the Ministry of External Affairs has sought a report from the Defence Ministry on the issue.

 
 

Movement against Indian water theft started by Farmers


Pakistan Muthida Kisan Mahaz (PMKM) has started a movement to condemn Indian water aggression against Pakistan and to foil the Indian plan of depriving Pakistan from its share of water in the rivers irrigating both the countries by building dams on Chenab, Jehlum and Sindh.
The protest movement has been launched from Mirpur (AJK) where PMKM chief Muhammad Ayub Khan Mayo will apprise the media about impact of construction of Kishan Ganga Dam on Pakistan’s agriculture, Mangla Dam and cities of AJK.

 
 

Kashmir mulls re-opening of other pre-Partition routes


Jammu, Indian Occupied Kashmir : In a bid to boost the people-to-people contact between two sides of Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir government is examining proposals for re-opening more pre-Partition routes across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides this state between India and Pakistan.

 
 

'AJK UNIVERSITY EXHIBITION''

 
 

My father is innocent: Zubair Ahsan Dar

Family members of the former militant commander Muhammad Ahsan Dar on Wednesday rejected the police claim that he was involved in the murder of Nazir Ahmad Lone of Kreeri Baramulla in north Kashmir.
 Dar’s elder son Zubair Ashan Dar termed the accusations leveled against Dar as “unfounded and uncalled for.”

 
 

Hydroelectric power: WAPDA alleges rules were flouted in award of contract



If the hydropower project on River Jhelum is constructed, it will generate 1,000 MW of electricity. PHOTO: FILE


MUZAFFARABAD:  Pakistan and China are trapped in a deadlock over the construction of the 1,100 megawatts (MW) Kohala Hydropower Project on the Jhelum River in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) due to Wapda’s intransigence.The contract was awarded to a Chinese construction company, China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE).

 
 

10 alleged terrorists arrested from Rawalakot


Rawalakot : 10 alleged terrorists have been arrested by Rawalakot police in a search operation today. Operation was conducted on the basis of information provided by some undisclosed persons which was later verified by security agencies. SP poonch Riaz Bukhari told the news that the alleged terrorists were arrested from a house from the town area "Kasai Gali" in Rawalakot. 7 of those 10 belong to Swat, Pakistan and 3 are the local people. It's said that they were also involved in the terror activities that took place last year in Rawalakot and adjoining areas. Police told that further actions will be taken on the basis of information provided by these alleged persons.

 
 

A young Man from Azad Kashmir shot dead in Karachi

KARACHI, March 27: A young man was gunned down by unidentified men on M.A. Jinnah Road near the Radio Pakistan building in the early hours of Sunday.A duty officer at the Preedy police station said that the victim was in his early 20s and his body had been shifted to the Edhi morgue for want of identification.The incident occurred at around 2am when

 
 

Half-Day Holiday announced in AJK for semi final


Islamabad: Prime Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan (AJK) has announced half-day public holiday during World Cup Semi final between India and Pakistan in Mohali on Wednesday.

According to sources

 
 

Was Gandhi a GAY ?


JOSEPH LELYVELD’S hypothesis (in his just released book Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India) that Mahatma Gandhi left Kasturba to spend two years with his architect associate Hermann Kallenbach to further an alleged homosexual relationship, exposes a complete disregard for facts. 

 
 

Mohali aside, ISI still ‘busy’ in Kashmir - Hindustan Times


In October 2010, Mohammad Abdullah alias Abdullah Inqualabi held a meeting around 10 fellow terror operatives in Shopian of Jammu & Kashmir on the instructions of his handlers sitting in Pakistan. The coming together of all these terror operatives was an indication that Pakistan-based outfits are pooling in their resources.


It was decided in the meeting that Inqualabi will go to Delhi to set a base there and start preparing for a spectacular strike. But before he could make headway in his plan he was arrested by the special cell of Delhi in an Intelligence Bureau (IB) backed operation.


More : Continue here

 
 

In defense of Syed Ali Geelani



To admire Geelani, it is not necessary to subscribe to his political views. But like it or not  he has made his place in the hearts & minds of  Kashmiris, young & old. In fact he has already occupied the centre-stage of Kashmir politics, wherefrom it will be impossible to de-throne him in immediate future.
In more ways than one, India itself is responsible for this situation and the mess it is finding  itself in Kashmir today. By indulging in  political misadventures from day one, sheer apathy & indifference towards the political aspirations of people, the promotion of unaccountable governance, the  grievances of Kashmiris' have  transformed into despair & hatred throughout the Kashmir valley.

More : Continued here

 
 

Dilapidated condition of Sihala Road irks motorists and AJK travelers



Islamabad : Sihala Road, connecting the sensitive Kahuta, has been in a dilapidated condition for more than three years.

The section of the road passing through the Model Town Humak needs repair as whenever it rains it becomes impossible for motorists to pass through it. ‘The News’ learnt that dozens of serious accident occurred on the road because of its dilapidated condition in which many precious lives were lost. 

Sihala Road was constructed in the 1970s and its carpeting was done on the directives of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.

The single track dilapidated road is the only source for all kinds of traffic to approach the Model Town Humak, Sihala, Kahuta and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Motorists are facing great difficulties in driving their vehicles on the road. A major portion of Sihala Road, between Humak village and Model Town Humak, remains inundated in sewage.

Heavy traffic plies on Sihala Road because of industrial area. There are more than 100 big and small industrial units along the road. 

Talking to ‘The News,’ motorists and residents of the Model Town Humak, said that they have submitted several applications with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for repair and renovation of the road, but all in vain. The heavy traffic, including 20-wheelers, trucks and public transport, passes through the road.

Model Town Mohallah Committee General Secretary Malik Muhammad Nasir said that the concerned department and elected members are not taking interest in the development of the locality. “We are facing great difficulties due to dilapidated condition of Sihala Road.”

When ‘The News’ contacted CDA spokesman Malik Muhammad Saleem, he said that they would start repair work on Sihala Road soon. He admitted that Sihala Road is a busy road and used for heavy traffic

 
 

AJK deserving people not issued Watan cards



MUZAFFARABAD (INP): AJK flood affectees have blamed the Revenue Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir of awarding Watan cards to the influential people of the area while deserving and poor genuine people have been deprived of this facility. A group of flood-hit people of AJK told INP that deserving people have not been given Watan cards by the Revenue Department of AJK because the poor people have neither any approach to the officials nor they can influence them to acquire the cards. Sources said that merely less than 3 percent deserving people had been given the Watan cards and rest of them have been ignored because the officials of the Revenue Department were only considering the cases of only influential people and ignoring the applications of the deserving one. "Our cases were not considered by the officials of the Revenue Department because we have neither any money to bribe them to consider our applications nor we have other means to influence them," the flood-effectees blamed. All the benefits extended by the government of Pakistan to the flood-hit people including the Watan cards were being enjoyed by the affluent and those who have terms with the officials of Revenue Department, they accused.

Source : The frontier post

 
 

Azad Kashmir Police sets up complaints cell for the UK Kashmir Diaspora



LONDON, March 11 (APP)- Azad Kashmir Police has decided to establish an overseas police complaint cell for the British Kashmir Diaspora to deal with their grievances.The decision was announced by Tarik Khokhar, Inspector-General, Police, Azad Kashmir, while addressing a community meeting at Slough on the outskirts of London last evening.The IG who is currently on an official visit to the UK on the invitation of the Home office and Metropolitan Police, has met members of Kashmiri and Pakistanis communities in various cities of the UK to know first-hand their grievances from the police administration in Azad Kashmir.
Khokhar told the meeting that he was fully aware of the problems faced by expatriate Pakistanis including cases of kidnap for ransom, police heavy-handedness, lack of response, tribal-oriented litigation and targeting of the overseas Pakistanis by the criminal gangs including some rotten apples from within the police services.
He told the community that the decision to set up the cell was taken on the demand of the expatriate community members.

“The Complaint Cell has been established in the Central Police office (IGP Office), Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir to receive process, inquire and redress the complaints of the overseas community on a fast track basis,” Khokhar told the meeting.
He said that the Complaints cell will be monitored and supervised directly by the Inspector General of Police, AJK, and managed by the Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to IGP on daily basis.
Khokhar also informed the community of the serious problems the police force in AJK was facing due to the economic situation of Pakistan and the lack of funds.
He said with a shoe-string budget the police was doing everything to perform their duties in the best possible manner and to serve the communities.
He informed how the police wants to map all the major AJK cities with CCTV cameras to keep an eye on criminal elements who take advantage of the lack of modern surveillance technology.
He also informed of the plans to set up small mobile units at the grassroots level in major cities to create a better and direct policing interaction with the local communities.
He appealed to the communities to also assist the police in improving its operations, not through monetary grants but taking interest in neighbourhood and community projects in collaboration with the police.
The IGP invited the community to interact with the AJK police to create a better sense of things and to improve the situation at every level of the policing.

 
 

WAPDA thrash AJK in volleyball

LAHORE - Defending champion WAPDA secured their first victory in the 46th National Men's Volleyball Championship, easing past a weak challenge from AJK in straight sets 25-13, 25-14, 25-10 here on Saturday at WAPDA Sports Complex. Four other matches were decided on the second day as all the top teams including Navy, PAF, Punjab and Police staged wins. WAPDA led throughout the match against lowly AJK, who failed to match the speed and agility of their fast moving opponents. AJK lacked in stamina and technique. WAPDA maintained an iron grip through Aimal Kahn, Farooq Khan, Mohib Rasool and Muhammad Imran.
Meanwhile, PAF routed Higher Education Commission in straight sets 25-17, 25-19, 25-16. PAF spikers demonstrated brilliance and coordination to outplay HEC. Muhammad Saqib Moon and Ismail Khan played key role in PAF’s success. Army had an easy sailing over Sindh as they beat them in straight sets 25-15, 25-6, 25-6, exhibiting quick moves and powerful serve game. Navy overpowered FATA in a one sided affair 25-9, 25-9, 25-13. Navy remained in total control throughout the match as Wasit Ali and Syed Shuja Abbas led from the front. In another match, Punjab beat Balochistan 25-19, 25-14, 25-15 Today’s Matches: KPK v Navy, Railways v WAPDA, Punjab v Army, Police v PAF and Sindh vs Balochistan.

 
 

Visitors from Azad Kashmir can stay in India for six months Multiple-entry visas, India gave the Green Signal

New Delhi, March 26: India will not want Shahid Afridi’s boys to prolong their stay in the country by winning Wednesday’s match, but some others from across the frontier are welcome to longer visits.

New Delhi today “unilaterally” eased travel restrictions across the Line of Control (LoC) to increase people-to-people contact.

Visitors from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) can now stay in Jammu and Kashmir for up to six months and will be allowed multiple entries, the foreign office said.

The move comes a day after Manmohan Singh invited Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to watch the March 30 India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final at Mohali. Gilani and his wife are likely to come although an official confirmation is awaited from Islamabad.

Till now, the entry permit for cross-LoC travel remained valid for four weeks, with a provision for a two-week extension at the discretion of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

A further two weeks could be added in case of health or family emergencies if the foreign ministry and the state government so recommended.

The multiple-entry offer, too, is new: only one-time travel was allowed across the LoC on a single permit.

A foreign ministry statement said: “To encourage more people-to-people contact across the Line of Control, the Government of India has unilaterally decided to increase the stay period for the persons visiting Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) to six months with multiple entries.”

At their meeting in Thimphu in February, the two countries’ foreign secretaries had agreed that their governments should take steps to increase people-to-people contact.

Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir had also agreed that the two sides should resume dialogue on all issues, and that Bashir would visit India by July to review with Rao “the progress in the dialogue process”.

That meeting is to be followed by one between the two foreign ministers. But before all this, the two countries will have their bureaucrats meet and discuss a range of issues.

These include “counter-terrorism (including progress on the 26/11 trial in Pakistan), humanitarian issues, peace and security, including confidence-building measures, Jammu and Kashmir, promotion of friendly exchanges, Siachen, economic issues, the Wullar Barrage and Tulbul navigation project, and Sir Creek”.

As part of this “comprehensive dialogue”, the two home secretaries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on March 28-29, that is, on the eve of the World Cup semi-final.

Sources said Singh might take the opportunity to discuss with Gilani, on the sidelines of the match, what “deliverables” can be achieved by July. More so, because the bureaucratic talks may become long-drawn given that both countries have lobbies opposed to the resumption of the dialogue process.
A young Pakistani fan at the Wagah border on Saturday. He is on his way to Mohali to cheer his team in the March 30 semi-final. (PTI)





 
 

Political scenario in Azad Kashmir

Date for the General Elections for Legislative assembly has not been announced so far but it is believed that elections are going to be by the end of June 2011. Opposition parties, particularly Pakistan People's party AJK is criticizing the Attique khan's government for deliberately delaying the elections. While all this mess prevails, the ruling party Muslim conference is going deep and deep in troubles with each passing day and as a wild estimate, almost half of the Muslim conference has already joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) AJK which is headed by Sardar Sikander Hayat and Raja Farooq Haider. It is said that 8 more ministers including Sardar Najeeb Naqi, Chaudhary Rukhsar and many others are also in contact with PML(N) while Mehmood Riaz has been approached by Pakistan People's Party. Even the personal charisma of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has not worked here and Muslim conference is probably facing the worst crises of its history. Political Gurus are throwing blame on Sardar Attique khan for putting Muslim conference in such crises.





Election campaigns have been started by almost all the political parties at some level and corner meetings and rallies are going on. Candidates has not been decided yet by most of the political parties but potential candidates are found in public to grasp the support from them. Pakistan Peoples party is considered to be the strongest party in these elections. Mirpur & Bhimber are the strongholds of PPP while Sardar Qamar Zaman from Bagh, Sardar Yaqoob khan from Rawalakot, Chaudhary Lateef Akbar form Muzaffarabad and Mian Waheed from Neelum are also among the strong candidates for assembly from their respective constituencies.  Sardar Mohammad Hussain, Sardar Akhtar Rabbani and Sardar Ghulam Sadiq are also giving tough times to the opponents in Sudhnuti.


Pakistan Muslim League (N) AJK has Kotli and Muzaffarabad as its stronghold.Sardar Sikander Hayat and co from Kotli and Raja Farooq Haider and co from Muzaffarabad are the strongest candidates so far in their constituencies. But Outside Kotli and Muzaffarabad, it is hard to believe that PML(N) would be able to even win one single seat from AJK constituencies. PML(N) is expecting almost 60% seats of Refugees but that is unpredictable so far.






\Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party under the leadership of Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan has also emerged to be a strong political entity this time in Poonch, Bagh and Sudhnati. It has come out of the realm of one-man show and now they are contesting on almost every constituency of AJK. Muslim Conference and PML(N) has approached JKPP but continuing their principled politics they refused to form any alliance this time with any of the political party so far. Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan has an edge over Sardar Yaqoob from Rawalakot Town constituency while Sardar Mehmood Iqbal Khan is giving a tough time to Sardar Siab Khalid khan.

Many changes have to happen before elections and political games are ON. Lets see who takes the lead this time. May the deserving one gets the lead.

 
 

A disaster greater than natural disaster

ISLAMABAD, March 23: Given the frequency of natural disasters in the world and the devastation that they cause, one would have expected public institutions to welcome offers of training in survival methods, but not the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

According to a senior official, the FDE showed no interest in the offer of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to train some 400,000 students in its institutions in disaster management training free of cost.

CDA`s emergency and disaster management (EDM) directorate had sent a letter containing the offer to the director general of the FDE a few months back but got no response.

The official said the EDM wing had highlighted the importance of the training to cope with any natural disaster, especially an earthquake.

“The CDA had offered the FDE director general that its EDM wing can impart disaster management training to the 400,000 students studying in around 400 educational institutions in the capital,” said the official.

He said looking at the rising disasters the world over, a proper training programme for the students on disaster management drills would be highly beneficial to save lives. However, it seems that the FDE is not interested in the offer, he regretted.

“The EDM wing is capable of imparting training to such a large number of students within a few months.”

The official said they had even sent a reminder to the FDE but still there was no response.

In our reminder: “We have drawn her attention towards the much needed training which can be vital for saving lives during natural disasters.”

He said the EDM wing had skilled manpower, machinery and gadgets for running life-saving rescue operations during disasters. The authority also has a canine unit having several dogs trained on search and rescue operations.

“We have also prepared the training programme and assigned rescue workers to train the students,” he said.

It may be noted that several thousands students were killed in the October 2005 earthquake which hit parts of northern Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir.

When this scribe contacted the FDE Director General Shaheen Khan, she said she was not aware of any such letter sent by the CDA.

“I will see it (on Thursday)…I have to go through and check the files,” she responded when her attention was drawn towards the matter relating to almost 400,000 students.

“You can remind me (on Thursday) and then I will be in a position to give you an answer,” she said.



 
 

Corruption Rises in Azad Kashmir

The misconduct of political elite and top government functionaries suggests that Pakistan Administered Jammu & Kashmir (PAJK), commonly known as Azad (free) Kashmir, is literally free from the burden of all rules, regulations and laws.
Surprisingly, in a rampant political and administrative corrupt regime a member of ruling political party has been disqualified over deception and misconduct. On October 29 the AJK Minister Chaudhry Rukhsar was ejected from the parliament when the Supreme Court of the semi-autonomous region, proved him guilty of submitting forged educational documents to prove his eligibility as a candidate in the election process. The MLA of the ruling Muslim Conference from southern Mirpur district had sent bogus certificates of O and A levels of British educational standards.
In AJK, a few mighty hands never feel shame of capturing any occasion to seize political and administrative powers by any means. They do not have an iota of respect to their legal, ethical or social obligations. The reason being their political survival maintained by close family ties with high-ups in civil and military bureaucracy. In the presence of ad-hoc judicial arrangements and a guarded media the accountability mechanism is hilarious. Lack of an institutional control on corruption and a political will to prosecute the violators, has turned the region into a haven for opportunists.
The people who sit on the helm of affairs in AJK and are believed to be the guardian of law, merit and collective well-being of the masses are also involved in this disgusting race for robbing national funds. According to recent media reports, the person who is on top ladder of government hierarchy has allegedly been trying to grab a large part of valuable government land. He legitimizes his demand asserting that the property has not been utilized by a government department which oversees the Mangla dam project. It is the irony of the situation that those who are custodians of people’s rights they validate their wrong doings by giving cosmetic justifications.
Similarly, several top functionaries in the government including the prime minister have been criticized for wasting taxpayers’ money on frequent abroad visits in pretext of highlighting Kashmir cause. Estimates say that over $100,000 were spent on his abroad visits in recent months in a situation when domestic economy is crumbling. AJK government has borrowed enormous funds from the Government of Pakistan to pay the salaries of public servants. The AJK government is putting salt onto the wounds of hike-ridden masses by making new political appointments when the already oversized cabinet has badly failed to deliver in terms of development, employment opportunities, public health, education and reconstruction after the massive earthquake in 2005.
AJK population is around 3 million; less than the population of Pakistan’s Rawalpindi District, whereas the number of ministers and advisors in the government is much more than its required numbers. The premier’s son who does not possess any official portfolio has also been the centre of public criticism for enjoying foreign visits on government funding. Reports have appeared in media that government workers, having insufficient salaries and humbled by the unctrollable price hike, want to sell their children. Patients are dying in hospitals due to non-availability of life saving drugs and vaccines. About 200,000 school children are studying in torn tents in chilly weather because government failed to rebuild their schools. Recently, the federal government has diverted more than £300 million foreign aid sanctioned for 2005 quake victims to a politically motivated income support program. This is not the first time that some foreign funding bodies have shown reluctance to materilise their aid plans through official government channels. The incumbent AJK government has failed to lobby in Islamabad against this decision.
The head of a foreign funded project in Azad Kashmir has been terminated by Prime Minister Sardar Atique who refused to make payment of more than Rs.8 million to a ruling party worker claimed against some forged bills. Astonishingly, the deposed official Mr Awan was in China in a regional review meeting and was busy in lobbying for further assistance for development sector. Insiders say that staff members at district level in this project are also prey of permanent threats of removal from job by some ministers and party workers who demand release of fabricated payments.
The ultimate and apparent outcome of such illegal and fraudulent practices in the government would diminish the prospects of future funding in the country. And Pakistani flood survivors have already paid the price of mishandling of foreign aid by the corrupt regime which badly affected confidence of donor countries individual philanthropists.
(The writer is a freelance journalist and could be contacted at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com)

 
 

447 bottles of Wine Confiscated in Rawalakot - Great Achievement by AJK Police

Yesterday 447 bottles of Wine were confiscated by AJK Police from Rawalakot area during a search operation.  The alleged Abdul Shakoor has been arrested and investigation has been started. Police told that the alleged person was also involved in the dealings on illegal weapons and is doubted to be also involved in a theft case which took place last week. It's a great achievement from the AJK police and it really deserves an applaud.