‘Intl community must play its role to settle K-dispute’

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 26: Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) Chudhary Abdul Majeed has said that the international community should discharge its legal and moral obligations regarding the settlement of the long-pending Kashmir dispute to ensure durable peace in South Asia.
 Addressing a rally organised by All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC-M), Chudhary expressed complete solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated his government’s full support to Kashmiris’ peaceful struggle for right to self-determination.
 Terming right to self-determination as an inalienable and non-negotiable right of Kashmiris, he said that the international community should intervene and exert its pressure on India to implement the relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir to get the dispute resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people. He also hailed Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai’s role and said that the KAC chief was an ambassador of peace who had projected Kashmir cause at international level.
 Of those who spoke on the occasion included, Sardar Khalid Ibraheem Khan the president of Peoples Party (PaK), Sardar Sageer Chughtai of Muslim Conference, JI leader Noor-Ul-Bari, APHC Convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani and several others.
 Later the protesters marched to UNMOGIP office where Hurriyat representatives and PaK premier presented a memorandum to the UN officials seeking the highest body’s role to resolve Kashmir issue.
 Meanwhile, similar rallies were held in Muzaffarabad, Mirpore and other district headquarters of PaK
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Amend 1974 Act to improve governance in PaK: Report

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 15: Speakers at a Round Table Conference hosted by Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms (CPDR) on Sunday unanimously agreed that there was a dire need of revisiting and revamping of the “PaK interim constitution act of 1974”, which they said had led to a paradigm shift in power structure besides diluting status of the government in the region.

 During day-long deliberations on CPDR report titled” an appraisal of constitutional, financial and administrative arrangements between government of Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir”, here speakers expressed dissatisfaction over the existing arrangement saying, “The 1974 Act has drastically changed the power structure thereby establishing Kashmir Council entrusted with significant legislative and executive powers. The Council has miserably failed to achieve the results for which it was established. The council that enjoys executive powers has hampered local government’s ability to take key decisions regarding socio-economic development.”

 They maintained that over the years Kashmir Council has become a strong institution but there was no check and balance as it is no where accountable. They said the PaK has a 10 billion budget whereas the Kashmir Council alone consumes a budget of  Rs 4 billion annually.

 Appreciating the CPDR’s report speakers said that it was high time for civil society, elected representatives and leadership of political parties to take up and discuss the issue of devolution of power with all stakeholders to have more autonomous government in the region.

 In his key note address Justice Basharat Ahmed Sheikh briefed the participants about the CPDR report and said that a change in the existing system was must to ensure good-governance, rule of law and socio-economic development in the region. 

 He lamented that during last 36 years the Kashmir Council, which enjoys executive authority over 52 subjects, has not taken over relevant departments. 

 He said that the Council failed to live up to the expectations of the people of the region saying that for last three decades the Council could not establish its office/secretariat in PaK, even it could not setup a rest house in the region. 

  “There is every thing in the Council but not Kashmir that is why I call it a Kashmir-less council,” he said.

 Raja Farooq Hyder who is one of the strong proponents of the constitutional amendments said that the KC and the government can’t go together. He was of the view that amendments in 1974 Act were essential to maintain peace and harmony in the region.

 Pertinently, the CPDR in its report after giving a brief account of legal and constitutional arrangements between Pakistan and the government of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) had stressed the need to initiate a debate on constitutional status of PaK.

 The report suggested that Kashmir Council should be retained and entrusted with co-ordinating between the governments of Pakistan and “PaK” in respect of the subjects mentioned in section 31(3) of Act 74, which include the responsibilities under the UNCIP resolutions, defence and security, currency, foreign affairs and foreign trade.

 “The council should consist of the prime minister of Pakistan, the leader of opposition and three ministers of the government of Pakistan whereas PaK should be represented by PM, leader of opposition and three members of the Council (to be elected by the PaK legislative body)”, the report said.

 The report recommends (a) the reverting all executive and legislative powers to the PaK legislative Assembly (b) reverting power to government of PaK regarding appointment of judges of Supreme Court and High Court (c) establishing an independent election commission.

Abbasi calls for removing all impediments in trans-LoC trade

Urges Pak PM, president to take cognizance of ‘conspiracies being hatched to sabotage cross-LoC trade’

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Jan 7: President, Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zulfiqar Abbasi urged the prime minister and the president of Pakistan to take cognizance of “conspiracies being hatched to sabotage the cross LOC trade.”

 “Despite proper trade agreement between India and Pakistan, some elements have been working against the spirit of this agreement, which is in fact contrary to the policies of the incumbent regime,” Abbasi said in a chat with Greater Kashmir on Saturday.

 While expressing concern over the grievances of the traders’ community, he said the custom officials should stop seizing of the trucks.

 “There should be an immediate end to the practice of seizing goods laden trucks, which inflict huge losses to Kashmiri business community involved in the trans-Loc trade,” he said, adding that it was astonishing to note that on one hand “they talk of enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries and on the other hurdles are being created to thwart this pioneering CBM.”

 “Kashmiris after a gap of more than 60 years, availed this opportunity (trade goods across LoC) and I believe that the historic initiative taken by the two governments can play important role in strengthening local economy besides revitalizing the socio-economic potential of the region,” he said. 

 He said that after resumption of Truck Service, the two countries formally agreed that 21 items would be traded across the line of control. “As per the agreement,” he said “no country can unilaterally make any alteration in the list of trading items.”

 Referring to the agreement, he said, “Only Joint working committee of the two countries has been authorised to do so”, he said.

 JKJCCI chief said the trans-loc trade was the inalienable right of the Kashmiri business community and no one can deprive them of their right. 

 Abassi demanded the government of Pakistan to remove all impediments and barriers to ensure smooth and free flow of trade.