By: Zulfiqar Ali (Kashmir Investigation Team)
MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly’s decision to grant privileges to former Prime Ministers has sparked a heated debate, with many questioning the justification and transparency behind the move.
AJK Legislative Assembly on November 30, 2023, increased the privileges of the former Prime Ministers and the then Prime Minister, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, which led to a strong public reaction.
When the The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges)(Amendment) Act, 2023 was presented in the Assembly, it was given the impression that the Bill was referred to a special committee of the Assembly, but later through a notification dated December 15, it was revealed that the Bill was passed in the Assembly session on November 30.
On December 15, 2023, the Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department of the AJK government issued the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) (Amendment) Act, 2023, but it was published on the Law Department’s website in January 2024.
It seems that to avoid public backlash, not only was the notification issued late, but it was also published late on the website. It stated that the law was passed by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on November 30 and received the assent of the President on December 13.
Under the new law, the former prime minister was provided with a 3000 cc official jeep, a driver, a police officer and three policemen for security, and a grade 16 assistant. Before the new law, former prime ministers had a 1600 cc to 1800 cc car, a grade 11 clerk, a driver, and a policeman for security.
Under the new law, former prime ministers will have free access to government guest houses, rest houses, and circuit houses across the country. Other benefits, including Rs 50,000 house rent and 400 liters of petrol per month, have not been changed. Interestingly, former prime ministers had already been provided with a 2022 model Honda Civic, so there was no reason to provide them with a 3,000 cc official jeep, which is why they have not been provided with a 3,000 cc jeep yet.
The question is, if these vehicles were not supposed to be provided to former prime ministers at that time, then why were these benefits increased only seven months after the formation of the coalition government?
A senior Azad Kashmir government official said that this was done so that the current prime minister could take a 3,000 cc jeep with him after completing his term. He said that he did this immediately after the formation of the coalition government so that no finger could be raised against him at the end of his term.
Another officer said that the Prime Minister has already reserved a Prado for himself, which he wants to take with him. He said that this is one of the Prados that the Azad Kashmir government got from the Kashmir Council.
The Kashmir Council had given 29 vehicles to the Azad Kashmir government, including 05 Prados. Sources said that the assembly members are silent on this because they protect each other’s interests.
It may be noted that a few weeks before the general elections, the outgoing assembly in June 2021 had approved additional benefits for former prime ministers to benefit the then prime minister of the region. According to the law passed at that time, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Perks) (Amendment) Act 2021, former prime ministers were given the facility of a clerk (BS-11), driver, and gunman at the end of their term. Earlier, they had the facility of a driver who also performed the duties of a gunman.
Under this law, their house rent was increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, which is equal to the house rent of cabinet members.
Already, former prime ministers and former presidents were entitled to a new official vehicle of 1600 cc – 1800 cc and 400 liters of petrol per month at the end of their term.
Members of the Azad Kashmir Assembly also receive a monthly pension of Rs 50,000. Since former prime ministers have also been members of the assembly, they are also entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 50,000.
