November 03, 2007	Saturday	Shawwal 21, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 2: The AJK government on Friday revoked a controversial notification relating to the Muzaffarabad master plan, but political leaders and civil society organisations vowed to continue their protests.

A fresh notification, issued by the communications and works secretariat, announced that the government had approved a ‘detailed master plan’ prepared by technical experts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

The new notification did not include the part relating to relocation of ‘state-level’ offices, except the Azad Kashmir Supreme Court and the High Court, to Chattar Klas, about 20 kilometres south of here. It retained all other points with some minor changes.

However, political leaders said the fresh notification was vague.

Raja Farooq Haider, MLA of the ruling Muslim Conference, said the government should have approved the Jica-prepared master plan which recommended that state-level offices could remain at their existing location in Chattar Domel, without any pre-condition.

Mr Haider pointed out that Nespak had also submitted its report, according to which the New Civil Secretariat buildings were fit for retrofitting.

He criticised the shifting of the university.

Earlier, Shaukat Javed Mir of the Muzaffarabad Awami Mahaz said at a press conference that protest demonstrations would continue unabated.