MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 13: From now on the government properties will be sold only through open auction, the AJK cabinet decided on Thursday.

It also formed a body to prepare report on the sale of official residences in Mirpur at throw-away prices by the previous regime. Minister for works, Syed Mumtaz Ali Gillani, was appointed as its head.

The cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, was informed that the previous government had approved sale of three C-type bungalows for only Rs6 million, rejecting the report of the public works department which had evaluated the market price of the residences to the tune of Rs50 million.

The body was asked to calculate the losses inflicted upon the national exchequer through the sale and submit its report in the forthcoming session.

The cabinet also took strong exception to the embezzlements in a steel mill in Mirpur and decided to initiate immediate action against the culprits. It okayed some amendments in the Ehtesab Bureau Act, and Zakat and Ushr Ordinance to regularize the administrative and financial matters of organizations.

It also directed to settle the affairs of the assistant commissioners appointed by promotion and approved some relaxation in their quota.

The cabinet discussed on a draft about the new local government system for Azad Kashmir and approved it in principle. But it was decided that the document would be put before the parliamentary committee for final consideration.

The prime minister voiced concern over the increasing incidents of power theft and directed the officials concerned to take strong action against corrupt employees involved in the thefts.

The cabinet flayed Indian government’s attempts to enact the inhuman and draconian law of Poto, and asked the civilised nations of the world to use their influence to prevent the said enactment.

It also condemned desecration of the worship places of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs in occupied Kashmir and India.