March 25, 2002	Monday	Muharram 10, 1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, March 24: AJK Works Minister Syed Mumtaz Ali Gillani was on Saturday given a “deadline of one month” to address some issues of the city, by a congregation, “Representative convention of the citizens,” presided over by a rebel leader of the Muslim Conference, Zahid Amin.

Speakers at the convention criticized the minister, who is the Legislative Assembly member from here, alleging that either he lacked courage to raise the pending issues of Muzaffarabad or was taking revenge from the citizens, majority of whom, they claimed, had voted against him.

“Over the past eight months, Mr Gillani has completely ignored the urban area of his constituency, which is unfair and intolerable,” a speaker said.

The speakers said the population of the city was increasing but some of its localities lacked the basic civic amenities. They said lack of repair of streetlights was adding to the miseries of the citizens.

Mr Gillani should allocate due share for the city from his special development funds, they demanded, adding that the municipal area also needed its share from the Khushhal Kashmir Programme in proportion to its population.

The speakers warned that if the minister did not take steps within one month to address the issues, he should prepare himself to face an agitation movement.

However, the participants later authorized Mr Amin to negotiate with the prime minister and party leadership for resolution of the problems before opting for agitation. It was decided that a committee would be constituted to convey the issues to the quarters concerned.

It was also decided that a monthly “city news bulletin” would be published to draw the attention of the government functionaries towards the problems with suggestions and proposals for their resolution.

Mr Amin thanked the federal government for reviving the monitoring system in Azad Kashmir.

He called upon President Gen Pervez Musharraf to order preparation of new, transparent and authentic feasibility report for provision of Sui gas to Muzaffarabad. The federal government should also take steps to establish medical college and naval cadet college in the city,