RAWALAKOT (Kashmir English): Senior PML-N leader, former government minister, and lawyer Sardar Tahir Anwar Khan on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the high-level committee constituted by the Government of Pakistan to deliberate on the future of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
His statement came two days after the Government of Pakistan had constituted a nine-member high-level committee in pursuance of the agreement signed between the representatives of the federal government, AJK government, and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
As per the agreement made on October 4, which ended the JAAC protest, a high-powered committee comprising legal and constitutional experts will deliberate on the issue of members of the AJK Assembly other than AJK constituencies.
Addressing a press conference at Ghazi Millat Press Club in Rawalakot, Sardar Tahir said that he has decided to step down from the committee nominated by the government as a member after respecting the reservations expressed by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
He clarified that he would not be part of any committee formed on this sensitive issue. The lawyer further clarified that he had no personal desire to be part of the committee and that his nomination was made without his consent.
“I have formally apologised to the PML-N Azad Kashmir president for not joining the committee,” he said, adding that although he has been practicing law for the past 40 years, he does not consider it appropriate to shoulder this responsibility in a political capacity.
Tahir Anwar said that the agreement between the government and the JAAC is of a national nature, and he does not want to play any role that could be perceived as negative. He emphasized that tensions among the people of Azad Kashmir are harmful and that the region’s peaceful atmosphere must be preserved.
Sardar Tahir Anwar Khan reiterated his commitment to continue his struggle for the security, survival, and future of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the broader Kashmir independence movement.
As per the government’s notification, Khashih-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary, Legal Advisor, and Consultant of Pakistan’s Ministry of Law and Justice, has been nominated as a member of the committee. Moreover, the federal government also nominated Hassan Mahmood, Legislative Advisor, Ministry of Law and Justice, and Taimoor Zareen Khan, Consultant Research, Ministry of Law and Justice, to the committee.
From the AJK government, Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, senior PML-N leader and lawyer Sardar Tahir Anwar, and lawyer Raja Ejaz Ahmed are nominated as committee members. In addition to that, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has nominated Raja Amjad Ali Khan Advocate, Sardar Arbab Advocate, and Saad Ansari Advocate.
