July 24, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 20, 1429

MUZAFFARABAD, July 23: Opposition People’s Muslim League (PML) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has charged Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan's government with utter failure in providing any relief to the masses notwithstanding its tall claims about every issue.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday on the eve of the government's two years in office, a PML official alleged that instead of addressing the problems of people the prime minister and his team were engaged in swelling their personal fortunes.

"An impartial analysis of the government's performance over the last two years easily reveals that from reconstruction of quake-ravaged areas to the rehabilitation of Mangla Dam affected persons it has not done any tangible work except making hollow claims and announcements," said Khwaja Atif Bashir. According to him, taking advantage of "corruption at the highest level," the lent officers posted in AJK by the federal government were also exploiting the resources of the state to dishonestly acquire financial gains.

He said the AJK government had also allotted plots to some lent officers, in violation of rules, to contain objections by them to its wrongdoings. He asked the federal government to take stock of the "corrupt practices" of the officers.

Mr Bashir was also critical of "frequent" foreign tours of AJK president and prime minister along with their family members at state expense as well as exorbitant raise in their budget, saying their extravagancies mocked the people still yearning even for the basic amenities of life.

"The lavish living of rulers in a region dependant on others (Islamabad) for its financial needs must not go unheeded," he demanded.

The PML leader also criticised what he said perpetual absence of Sardar Attique from the seat of his government, claiming that in the past 30 days the prime minister had spent only three nights in Muzaffarabad.

"While the general public still crave for basic facilities of life, the rulers do not appear ready to leave the comforts of Islamabad," he said.

He pointed out that several official meetings were being conducted in Kashmir House Islamabad which was putting additional burden on the national exchequer.

"Even the so-called tree plantations drives are also opened in Kashmir House Islamabad and not anywhere in Kashmir which Mr Attique always claims to make greener," he said. Mr Bashir urged the federal government to find out that why the AJK premier was spending his maximum time in the federal capital.—Staff Correspondent