June 28, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 27,1424

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MUZAFFARABAD, June 27: Former AJK prime minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan on Friday stated that there had been no change in India’s stand and attitude about Kashmir as there was no let-up in atrocities on the innocent Kashmiris in the held territory.

Taking part in the debate on the AJK budget in the Legislative Assembly, he called for maintaining and promoting unity and internal harmony to frustrate the enemy’s designs.

Sardar Qayyum was of the view that the political, social and economic uplift and stability of Azad Kashmir would strengthen the region’s role in the liberation of Kashmir and defence of Pakistan.

“We will have to strengthen our ideological affiliation with Pakistan, which consequently will help us retain our identity,” he said.

He said there was no harm in holding a dialogue with India but could not prove fruitful without the participation of the Kashmiris.

He said the Kashmir policy of President Gen Pervez Musharraf was in the right direction and in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris.

He said a major chunk of the non-development expenditure was spent on execution of the development budget, therefore, it should be named administrative budget.

Calling for greater emphasis on the productive sectors, he said hydel power generation could yield enormous income for AJK.

He called for reforms in the education department and demanded appointment of a full-time education minister.

He said stipends should be awarded for higher education particularly PhD.

He also demanded raise in the salaries and privileges of Qazis.

Deputy opposition leader Haji Javed Akhtar said the finance minister had presented the “establishment’s budget.” He said no amount had been earmarked for technical education. He said there was a vast potential in the tourism sector, but the government was not exploiting it.

The government, he suggested, should obtain grant from the AJK Council for rehabilitation of the refugees.

People’s Party AJK leader Chaudhry Abdul Majeed said his party believed in democracy and would play its role for political stability.

Condemning the recent arrests of PP workers, he declared that the raising of Mangla Dam would not be accepted.

Opposition’s Kosar Gillani demanded a probe into alleged bungling in purchase of land for the Kashmiri refugees’ colonies in Pakistan.

Another opposition MLA, Gulzar Fatima, demanded that the house should be informed about the performance of the delegations sent abroad to highlight the Kashmir issue.