MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Kashmir local government (LG) representatives have staged a demonstration at Burhan Wani Chowk in Muzaffarabad today (Saturday).
The convention, organised by LG representatives, demands more power should be given to the local government institutions, and funds should be ensured.
The participants of the divisional convention told the media that they were determined to empower the local government system. They are demanding the government to restore their constitutional rights.
Kashmir Digital learned that the AJK government on Friday announced to release of Rs1 billion in funds and urged local government (LG) representatives to call off their planned protest.
The govt asserted that consensus-based amendments to the relevant law had already been approved to address issues concerning LG institutions.
However, Muzaffarabad’s Mayor Sikandar Gillani, a LG representative, rejected the government’s insurance and termed it as mere ‘rhetoric’.
He informed that similar conventions had already been held by LG representatives from Mirpur and Poonch divisions at their respective headquarters on Feb 6 and 10. However, the decision regarding the next course of action had been postponed until Muzaffarabad’s convention.
Elected local government representatives from different districts of Azad Kashmir, local leaders, and the public from all walks of life have been participating in the convention.
As per details, convoys from different areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir including Jhelum Valley have left for Muzaffarabad.
The protesters have warned that if their demands are not accepted, the scope of the protest will be further expanded.
The future course of action regarding the protest movement will be announced later today in the convention.
LG convention Muzaffarabad
Earlier on Friday night, the protestors blocked the Secretariat Road along with the Muzaffarabad Press Club, which caused difficulties for the people.
The local people said that the government should give them funds and urged them to stage protests in front of the AJK Prime Minister’s House instead of creating difficulties for the people.
While holding a press conference on Friday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PP) ministers termed the protest of the local government representatives as unjustified.
The government’s coalition party Pakistan Muslim League-N, on the other hand, announced its support for the protest movement of the local government representatives.
In a statement, PML-N said that the government was asked many times to give powers to the local government representatives, but the government failed to implement them.
