MUZAFFARABAD, June 26: Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Thursday asked the Azad Kashmir government to set up a powerful investment board and an overseas investment foundation to bring economic stability and overcome unemployment.

Expressing his views on the AJK budget for the next financial year in the Legislative Assembly, he said the government should leave no stone unturned to exploit the region’s resources and ameliorate the lot of the people.

Economic stability was a must to maintain political independence, he said.

He called for establishment of Azad Kashmir’s own bank, which, he believed, could help achieve the goal of industrialization at the earliest.

He said the monitoring of the working of different departments should be made more effective.

He criticized the education department and said it was a “government within the government.” Many teachers were getting salaries while staying at their homes, he said and demanded that the problem should be addressed.

He expressed his gratitude to the federal government, particularly President Gen Pervez Musharraf, for providing liberal aid to Azad Kashmir.

He suggested that a welfare foundation for the legislators should be formed.

On the political friction in AJK, he said the president, prime minister and the opposition leader were institutions which required due respect.

People’s Party MLA Sahibzada Ishaq Zafar offered support to the government “to protect the constitution and democracy” in Azad Kashmir.

Mr Zafar, who is at loggerheads with the opposition leader and his party’s chief, made it clear that he would not support any “conspiracy” against the constitution and democracy.

“There could be an in-house change through democratic process, but no one could be allowed to sabotage the constitution,” he said. He stressed that tolerance must prevail and the politicians should learn from the results of the confrontation between former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

“If this government is packed through extra-constitutional measures, the PP may also not come to power. We should realize the sensitivity of the situation,” he said.

Mr Zafar said the opposition was bound to pinpoint the faults of the government but would support every move aimed at rectification of the wrongs.

He asked the government to ensure justice and merit and take steps to weed out nepotism.

Vowing to continue the struggle for the liberation of Kashmir, he extended his support to the formation of a parliamentary Kashmir committee.

PPAJK chief is opposed to setting up of such a committee.

Mr Zafar demanded that the recognized Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the Line of Control should be taken into confidence on the proposed talks with India.