ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Local representatives in Azad Kashmir held a press conference in Islamabad warning the government against seizing municipal funds, vowing protests and roadblocks if any legislation hinder local bodies.
Local representatives across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have warned the Azad Kashmir government against any attempt to seize municipal funds, also vowing to resist any legislation aimed at diverting these funds. They have threatened large-scale protests, including sit-ins outside the Legislative Assembly and the closure of all entry points into Azad Kashmir.
During a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad, key municipal representatives voiced their concerns. The speakers included focal person Sardar Javed Sharif Advocate, Mir Imtiaz Ahmed the Central Secretary, Daud Khan the Chairman of Municipal Committee Jhelum Valley, Israr Abbasi the Vice Chairman of UC Makhiala Dheerkot, Sardar Aftab Arif the Media Coordinator, Chaudhry Muhammad Zohaib Shaheen the Chairman Union Council Jatlan, Zahid Farid the District Vice Chairman Jhelum Valley, and several other prominent representatives from different districts of Azad Kashmir.
They emphasised that the recent local government elections in AJK were held after 30 years following a Supreme Court ruling. They criticised the ruling government and political parties for their past reluctance to hold these elections, describing their actions as insincere.
The representatives affirmed their support for the AJK High Court’s decision, which clearly states that the budget allocated for local governments cannot be spent by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Instead, these funds must be utilised through municipal institutions. They stressed that the role of MLAs is to create laws, while development work falls under the responsibility of local bodies.
Accusing the elite class of increasing their salaries multiple times while ignoring local representatives, they pointed out that each MLA is receiving millions in development funds, whereas municipal representatives have not been granted any funds at all. The political figures have warned about government plans to seize local government funds through new legislation, which they pledged to resist aggressively.
The representatives dedicated themselves to safeguarding the rights of voters regardless of the situation. Any move to undermine local bodies by the government will result in full-scale protests and singing of the Assembly together with blocking all access to AJK.
