MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rural Support Programme (AJKRSP) has been struggling for almost a year to reclaim its “missing” assets, including a dozen vehicles, but in vain.

AJKRSP was founded to uplift the economic conditions of rural communities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Launched by the government in June 2007, under the Companies Ordinance 1984 with Rs250 million in endowment fund, the organisation was headed by the AJK prime minister.

In 2009, the then AJK premier withdrew the government’s role from AJKRSP.

However, the new board of directors was not recognised by the Registrar Joint Stock Companies, Firms and Associations (JSCFA).

In March 2013, the government revived the initially constituted board which removed AJKRSP’s chief executive officer (CEO) Attiqur Rehman and replaced him with Mian Akhlaq Rasool.

This board was validly recognised by the Registrar JSCFA and Form 29 was issued in its favour in April, last year.

Mr Rehman, who was simultaneously holding the post of regional manager of National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), filed a petition in the AJK High Court against his removal, which was dismissed in November 2013.

However, the previous management is alleged to have not returned some assets of the AJKRSP, despite several requests and reminders.

According to the official record, 31 vehicles, 16 motorbikes and various other office equipment and gadgets were purchased for the organisation.

However, Khawaja Mohammad Iqbal, programme officer admin and HR, told Dawn that once the new administration

transpired about the missing assets, they lodged the report with the police in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. They also sent copies to senior police and administration officials, but only a few items could be recovered to this day, he added.

Giving details of the missing assets, he said, seven vehicles, two motorbikes and numerous office equipment were allegedly in NRSP regional office near Sihala, Islamabad, under the control of Mr Rehman.

When contacted for comments, the former CEO maintained that his “board” was lawfully possessing “some of the assets”, including seven vehicles, whereas the present management was unlawful and thus “occupying the remaining assets and the offices unlawfully”.

Documents also revealed that the AJK PM Secretariat had also obtained five vehicles from the AJKRSP and nothing was known about their current holder.

When questioned about it, Mr Rasool said he had sent at least three reminders to the PM Secretariat for the return of these vehicles, but to no avail.