02 March 2004	Tuesday	10 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, March 1: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan has called on ministers, who have tendered resignations, to attend the Cabinet meeting being held on March 4 , saying they would lose their portfolios if they did not attended the meeting.

Sardar Sikandar Hayat, while talking with journalists here at the Azad Kashmir House, said the AJK government was not facing any crisis over the issue, adding the matter could be settled amicably.

He said none of the members of his Cabinet had handed over their resignations to him and if there were some misunderstandings these could be discussed.

He said he was not even aware of the resignations tendered by some members of his Cabinet and had only come to know about the situation when he had discussed the matter with Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan. He said the ministers were free to decide and there was no pressure on them.

Replying to a question he said if Sardar Attique was desirous of joining the Cabinet, he would have to resign as party chief according to the constitution of the Muslim Conference. He said of the 12 ministers, four had reportedly tendered their resignations while eight had given their written consent to keep on working.

Sikandar Hayat appreciated the role of AJK President Sardar Mohammad Anwar for showing impartiality, saying he has had detailed discussion in this regard. The president, he said, had expressed his displeasure over the 'fake crisis'. -APP