All Parties’ Conference to be held in Islamabad
NISAR AHMED THOKAR
Islamabad, Aug 29: The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs is all set to host an All Parties’ Conference in Islamabad on Thursday wherein heads of political parties of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) would share their expertise and opinion regarding the empowerment of local government.
Officials said the Conference is aimed at making necessary amendments in the existing interim constitution, which is largely being perceived as a hurdle in the way of socio-economic development in the region.
The Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Manzoor Ahmed Watoo has summoned the high profile meeting on this sensitive subject and invited almost all the mainstream political parties in the conference that includes the Pakistan Peoples Party headed by incumbent prime minister Chaudhary Majeed, Pakistan Muslim League PaK chapter headed by Raja Farooq Hyder, Muslim Conference led by Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Peoples Party headed by Sardar Khalid Ibraheem, Jammat-e-Islami and the heads of other regional parties respectively.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, veteran Kashmiri leader and chairman of Peoples Party (PaK) Sardar Khalid Ibraheem said, “we have received the invitation but the final decision on whether to attend the conference or not would be taken duly after holding deliberations with party stalwarts and legal experts on the subject”. He, however, stated that his party’s stance in this regard was very much clear. “Our party is of the view that there is a dire need to revisit the Act 1974 so as to get rid of the contentious issues that have become source of irritation and discomfort”, he said.
Commenting on the development, renowned columnist and writer, Ershad Mahmud said that it was by and large a golden opportunity whereby stakeholders can sit and talk together to hammer out solution to all intriguing issues.
“Today when PPP rules both in PaK as well as at the centre, it provides a unique opportunity to them to do away with this dual system of governance so that people of PaK could remain associated with center (Pakistan) in a much dignified manner”.
He was of the view that the dual system introduced in the region (PaK) under the garb of interim act of 1974 has been a stumbling block in the way of region’s peace and prosperity. He maintained that the people of PaK have great expectations from central government and they want adequate constitutional, financial as well as administrative powers to run the State Affairs in a befitting manner.
Renowned jurist and the former chief Justice of PaK, Justice (retired) Manzoor Gilani termed the Kashmir Affairs Minister’s move as an attempt to ward off pressure from civil society to abolish Kashmir Council.
“It is high time that all the stakeholders including political parties of AJK and the government of both AJK and Pakistan should come forward with a positive frame of mind to take advantage of the situation”.
Justice (Retd) Gilani, who is also head of Association of Rights of people of Jammu Kashmir said in the backdrop of 18th, 19th and 20th constitutional amendments the powers devolved to other provinces of Pakistan should likewise be granted to Gilgit-Baltistan and PaK.
He maintained that in the light of recent constitutional amendments federating powers should be directly ceded to the government of Pakistan rather than the Council (KC).
Unless Kashmir dispute is resolved, Gilani opined that Kashmiris should be given due representation in the parliament of Pakistan, the senate and other constitutional institutions of Pakistan like National Economic Council, Finance Commission and Council for Common Interest
Meanwhile, Muslim Conference led by former PaK premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has termed Kashmir Affairs Minister’s move as a welcome development saying that it was high time for PPP government to correct their mistakes committed in the past. Addressing an extraordinary meeting of the parties parliamentary committee Khan said that his party would extend all out support to the government of Pakistan in revamping and restoration of Act 1974 in its original shape.
Opposition parties to adopt joint stand
The opposition parties of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) at a joint sitting here on Wednesday agreed to adopt a unanimous stand regarding the amendments in Act 1974.
Held under the leadership of Muslim League (N) headed by former PaK premier Raja Farooq Hyder Khan, the meeting was attended by former PaK president Sardar Anwar Khan, Sardar Khalid Ibraheem, JI Chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi, MC leader Sardar Sayab Khalid, Chairman Liberation League Justice (retired) Abdul Majeed Malik, PML-N secretary general Shah Ghulam Qadir and several others.
Deliberating on various issues relating to the Interim Constitution Act of 1974, the participants of the meeting resolved that while presenting suggestions each party would adhere to the agreed agenda. They maintained that at the end of conference the opposition leaders would also talk to media to present their view point on this particular subject.
They resolved that in view of the changes sweeping in the region there was a dire need that the elected government of region should be fully empowered as per the declaration of October 24, 1947.
The leaders of the opposition parties also voiced their serious concern over OIC for not inviting Kashmiri leadership in the recent summit held in Mecca. Terming it as incumbent government’s diplomatic failure, incompetence and its apathy towards Kashmir issue, they demanded the government of Pakistan should raise the Kashmir issue vociferously in the upcoming Indo-Pak foreign secretaries meeting.
Officials said the Conference is aimed at making necessary amendments in the existing interim constitution, which is largely being perceived as a hurdle in the way of socio-economic development in the region.
The Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Manzoor Ahmed Watoo has summoned the high profile meeting on this sensitive subject and invited almost all the mainstream political parties in the conference that includes the Pakistan Peoples Party headed by incumbent prime minister Chaudhary Majeed, Pakistan Muslim League PaK chapter headed by Raja Farooq Hyder, Muslim Conference led by Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Peoples Party headed by Sardar Khalid Ibraheem, Jammat-e-Islami and the heads of other regional parties respectively.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, veteran Kashmiri leader and chairman of Peoples Party (PaK) Sardar Khalid Ibraheem said, “we have received the invitation but the final decision on whether to attend the conference or not would be taken duly after holding deliberations with party stalwarts and legal experts on the subject”. He, however, stated that his party’s stance in this regard was very much clear. “Our party is of the view that there is a dire need to revisit the Act 1974 so as to get rid of the contentious issues that have become source of irritation and discomfort”, he said.
Commenting on the development, renowned columnist and writer, Ershad Mahmud said that it was by and large a golden opportunity whereby stakeholders can sit and talk together to hammer out solution to all intriguing issues.
“Today when PPP rules both in PaK as well as at the centre, it provides a unique opportunity to them to do away with this dual system of governance so that people of PaK could remain associated with center (Pakistan) in a much dignified manner”.
He was of the view that the dual system introduced in the region (PaK) under the garb of interim act of 1974 has been a stumbling block in the way of region’s peace and prosperity. He maintained that the people of PaK have great expectations from central government and they want adequate constitutional, financial as well as administrative powers to run the State Affairs in a befitting manner.
Renowned jurist and the former chief Justice of PaK, Justice (retired) Manzoor Gilani termed the Kashmir Affairs Minister’s move as an attempt to ward off pressure from civil society to abolish Kashmir Council.
“It is high time that all the stakeholders including political parties of AJK and the government of both AJK and Pakistan should come forward with a positive frame of mind to take advantage of the situation”.
Justice (Retd) Gilani, who is also head of Association of Rights of people of Jammu Kashmir said in the backdrop of 18th, 19th and 20th constitutional amendments the powers devolved to other provinces of Pakistan should likewise be granted to Gilgit-Baltistan and PaK.
He maintained that in the light of recent constitutional amendments federating powers should be directly ceded to the government of Pakistan rather than the Council (KC).
Unless Kashmir dispute is resolved, Gilani opined that Kashmiris should be given due representation in the parliament of Pakistan, the senate and other constitutional institutions of Pakistan like National Economic Council, Finance Commission and Council for Common Interest
Meanwhile, Muslim Conference led by former PaK premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has termed Kashmir Affairs Minister’s move as a welcome development saying that it was high time for PPP government to correct their mistakes committed in the past. Addressing an extraordinary meeting of the parties parliamentary committee Khan said that his party would extend all out support to the government of Pakistan in revamping and restoration of Act 1974 in its original shape.
Opposition parties to adopt joint stand
The opposition parties of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) at a joint sitting here on Wednesday agreed to adopt a unanimous stand regarding the amendments in Act 1974.
Held under the leadership of Muslim League (N) headed by former PaK premier Raja Farooq Hyder Khan, the meeting was attended by former PaK president Sardar Anwar Khan, Sardar Khalid Ibraheem, JI Chief Abdul Rasheed Turabi, MC leader Sardar Sayab Khalid, Chairman Liberation League Justice (retired) Abdul Majeed Malik, PML-N secretary general Shah Ghulam Qadir and several others.
Deliberating on various issues relating to the Interim Constitution Act of 1974, the participants of the meeting resolved that while presenting suggestions each party would adhere to the agreed agenda. They maintained that at the end of conference the opposition leaders would also talk to media to present their view point on this particular subject.
They resolved that in view of the changes sweeping in the region there was a dire need that the elected government of region should be fully empowered as per the declaration of October 24, 1947.
The leaders of the opposition parties also voiced their serious concern over OIC for not inviting Kashmiri leadership in the recent summit held in Mecca. Terming it as incumbent government’s diplomatic failure, incompetence and its apathy towards Kashmir issue, they demanded the government of Pakistan should raise the Kashmir issue vociferously in the upcoming Indo-Pak foreign secretaries meeting.
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