ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam has stated that most of the points of the agreement with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have been implemented.
“In compliance with the agreement, the Home Department has quashed 172 FIRs,” they said adding the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir has been in office for only one month, and he has held several cabinet meetings on the subject and implemented the points.
The minister, however, termed the non-participation of the committee members in the negotiations process as regrettable.
He expressed these views while addressing a press conference here on Monday regarding negotiations with the Awami Action Committee, alongside Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Also present on the occasion were Azad Kashmir Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed, Education Minister Diwan Ali Chughtai, Chief Secretary Azad Kashmir Khushal Khan, Secretary Kashmir Affairs Zafar Hassan, and Additional Secretary Kamran Rehman Khan.
Amir Muqam said an agreement was reached on 38 points between the Awami Action Committee and the government. The JAAC was invited to participate in negotiations. “Today’s meeting was pre-scheduled, and we waited, but the JAAC members did not come.”
Govt-JAAC agreement
He said that after public protests in Azad Kashmir, the Prime Minister formed a high-powered committee, and an agreement was signed with the JAAC. Before this, many committee meetings were held, and they periodically reviewed the progress on the agreement.
He said the implementation on the agreement was delayed during the tenure of the former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir, which is why the federal government considered a change in Azad Kashmir.
He said in compliance with the agreement, the Home Department quashed 172 FIRs, and only 15 serious FIRs remain. The demand for a judicial commission regarding new FIRs has been accepted.
The number of ministers and secretaries has been set at 20 as per the demand of the Action Committee. Employees suspended during the protests have been reinstated under the agreement, and work is underway on the demand regarding local government, he said.
Engineer Muqam said that compensation payments have been made exactly as per the agreement. An ordinance regarding property transfer has been sent to the President. The CEO and board members of USF have been appointed. The Azad Kashmir cabinet has approved two education boards. The open merit policy in medical colleges has started to be implemented this year. Agreements for water supply schemes are being implemented.
As per the agreement, the demand regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bank has also been fulfilled. As per the agreement, the injured and martyrs have been compensated.
According to the agreement, the student unions have been restored, and the health card will also be launched by January 20. Engineer Amir Muqam said that the health card will be launched by January 20, jobs have been given to the heirs of those who died during the protest, the demand for e-tendering for electricity meters has been accepted, and an ordinance related to changes in NAB law will be issued soon.
He said that it was agreed to form a legal committee regarding the seats of refugees, adding the federal government has issued a notification for a committee comprising members of the Azad Kashmir government and the action committee.
