MUZAFFARABAD: The PML-N government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has also toed the line of its predecessors by appointing ruling party activists as administrators of different local bodies.

While the PML-N government was dilly-dallying over the holding of long due LB polls, notwithstanding its own commitment, it had also avoided appointing political workers as administrators of local bodies.

Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider had long been maintaining that the PML-N workers should prepare for LB polls instead of seeking appointments through backdoor.

It was therefore the appointments had come like a bolt from the blue.

The notifications of appointment were handed over to the new administrators on Wednesday by Mr Haider at a function in Kashmir House, Islamabad.

According to an official handout, Khawaja Azam Rasool, Sardar Zakir Hussain, Sardar Mohammad Zahid Khan, Malik Aftab Ahmed and Tahir Mahmood Mirza were appointed as administrators of municipal corporations of Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh and Mirpur, respectively.

Apart from them, administrators of 12 town committees and 10 district councils were also appointed.

The last LB polls were held in AJK in 1991 and when they became due in 1995, the then Muslim Conference government put them in abeyance.

Soon after assuming office in July 1996, the then People’s Party government also announced to hold LB polls on party basis on Nov 16, the same year, but cancelled the process apparently for correction of voter lists.

Ever since 1995, every government has been giving the charge of LB institutions to ‘administrators’ - either from government officials or ruling party workers.

In March 2015, while disposing of a petition filed by a PML-N lawyer for holding of LB polls, the AJK High Court had directed the then PPP government to conduct the long due LB polls across the state within five months.

In his judgment, Justice M Tabassam Aftab Alvi (now Chief Justice) had held, among other things, that the government could not suspend local bodies and appoint administrators for an indefinite period as per its sweet will.

The AJK Supreme Court did not grant the PPP government leave to appeal and instead advised it to seek an extension from the High Court.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2018