August 5, 2005	Friday	Jumadi-us-Sani 28, 1426

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 4: The Jamaat-i-Islami Azad Jammu Kashmir (JIAJK) on Thursday filed a disqualification reference with the AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker against incumbent Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat, former PM Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan and ruling Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed, urging the custodian of the house to forward the same to the Chief Election Commissioner under section 25(2) of the state’s Interim Constitution Act-1974.

The reference, filed by JI’s AJK secretary general Mohammad Jehangir Khan, recalls that the three leaders had pledged allegiance to the idea of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan in their nominations papers as candidates and later in their oath as members of the Legislative Assembly in 2001.

But, it adds, for some time these leaders had been “contributing in one way or the other to the dreadful conspiracies” against the just struggle of the Kashmiris. Their most damaging contribution was aimed at making their internationally acknowledged right to self determination and idea of accession to Pakistan controversial.

“Since long, the three members of the assembly have been publicly distancing themselves from the idea of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan by promoting and propagating new ideas like ‘Chenab formula’ and ‘United States of Kashmir’”, says the reference which is also supported by press clippings.

“Propagation of idea of Kashmir’s division by these leaders is not only in blatant disregard to the Kashmiris’ national stand but also a serious violation of their oath and hence they have become disqualified from being members of the assembly under Section 24(2)(f) of the Interim Constitution and Section 5(2)(vii) of the AJK Legislative Assembly Election Ordinance 1970,” it adds.

Section 5(2)(vii) reads: A person shall become disqualified for being elected or chosen and for being a member if he is propagating any opinion or acting in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, the ideology of the state’s accession to Pakistan…….”

It may be recalled that earlier the main opposition Peoples Party had also filed a similar reference against the AJK PM in 2003 for his alleged support to the division of Kashmir through “Chenab formula.”

However, the speaker had dismissed that reference against which the PP AJK filed an appeal in the AJK Supreme Court where it is still pending disposal.

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