MUZAFFARABAD, May 21: AJK Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan here on Saturday introduced a bill in the Legislative Assembly aimed at raising the legislature’s strength. According to section 22 of the AJK interim constitution, also known as Act 1974, the Legislative Assembly of Azad Kashmir consists of 48 members of whom 40 are elected directly on the basis of adult franchise.

“The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution (Eleventh Amendment) Act, 2005,” introduced in the house, proposed substitution of the word “forty-eight” by the word “forty-nine” in sub-section 1 of section 22 and substitution of the word “forty” by the words “forty-one” in clause (a) of sub-section 1 of section 22.

The additional seat would be given to district Muzaffarabad on the basis of its population.

The Interim constitution says that within 14 days of the day on which a bill to amend the interim constitution is introduced (either) in the (AJK) council or the assembly, the president shall summon a joint sitting of the two houses and if the bill is passed in the joint sitting with or without amendment by the votes of majority of the total membership it shall be presented to the president for assent within seven days.

The house also approved “The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Act, 2005” in the light of the report of the select committee which was read out by the law minister.

The law minister also introduced “The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Forestry Foundation Act, 2005” in the house, which was referred to the select committee. The bill, according to the law minister, was aimed at “improving the financial and moral conditions of the employees of the AJK forest department”.

He said all gazetted and non-gazetted, serving and retired employees of the forest department, including field and support staff drawing salaries from the budget of the department, would be eligible to become the members of the foundation on payment of the prescribed contribution at the time of first registration and then afterwards on periodic renewal.

The session was later adjourned by the speaker sine die.