MUZAFFARABAD: While declaring Kashmir freedom movement as its “foremost priority,” the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet on Sunday resolved to turn AJK into a “social welfare state” with zero-tolerance for financial corruption and dereliction of duty.

At its first formal session, presided over by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, the nine-member cabinet held threadbare discussion on its plan of action to put into practice its persistent commitments about provision of good governance to the people of state.

According to an official handout, the cabinet decided to abolish and withdraw “unnecessary” protocol and staff from both the ministers and the government servants, apart from nullifying, after proper investigations, all appointments made in violation of law and merit and initiating disciplinary action against the culpable authorities.

While resolving to enforce fiscal and administrative discipline by following the Constitution, laws and the principle of merit, it decided to expand the revenue resources of the state on the one hand and scale down administrative expenditures to the maximum possible level on the other.

The cabinet was of the view that a massive crackdown on all forms of corruption and the best possible utilisation of resources under well worked out policies was a must to steer AJK towards economic empowerment, said the handout.

In this regard, the cabinet decided to abolish “hefty salaries and privileges” of Zakat Council and save the amount thus saved on the treatment of poor and needy patients.

Similarly, it was also decided to bring “revolutionary changes” in the education sector through rationalisation of educational institutions, so that quality education could be ensured for all state subjects.

In order to arrest politicisation of government departments, the cabinet also decided to encourage and protect government servants who had been following rules and regulations and deal with the “lackeys of politicians” with an iron hand.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Haider reaffirmed his tenaciousness to turn AJK into a true “base camp” of freedom movement, which he said was the first and foremost priority of the PML-N government.

“Allah willing, our government will play a proactive role on Kashmir issue which has become all the more essential in the wake of fresh wave of repression in the occupied territory that has no parallel in modern history,” said the premier, whose late mother belonged to Rajouri Kadal area of Srinagar.

“Even though Pakistan is under tremendous pressure with regard to Kashmir issue, the way leader of the founder party of Pakistan has indomitably advocated freedom of Jammu and Kashmir is exceptional, and the whole Kashmiri nation salutes him for this,” he said of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The prime minister made it clear that he believed in accountability but not in revenge.

“There will be an across the board accountability without any semblance to vengeance,” he said.

In this regard, the prime minister said since the performance of anti-corruption, ombudsman and accountability bureau was not up to the mark, he wanted to merge these institutions into each other to raise an independent and authoritative accountability body which could render its functions under the Constitution without any fear or favour.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2016