MUZAFFARABAD: Former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Tanveer Ilyas has accused his successor Chaudhry Anwarul Haq of worsening the fiscal health of the region through his “casual and wrong-headed approach”.

Talking to a group of Kashmiri journalists on Sunday, Mr Ilyas, who is also regional president of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), stressed upon all “stakeholders” to join hands for the early exit of Mr Haq from the seat of power to safeguard the interests of a common man as well as the sanctity of the democratic values and process.

He said Mr Haq was working on an agenda to bring the entire setup into disrepute with his nonchalant attitude and preposterous approach. “But I am sure the state will soon be rid of Mr Haq’s hybrid regime,” said the former AJK premier who was ousted by the judiciary on an alleged contempt of court in April this year.

Mr Ilyas recalled that when he was heading the AJK government, he had built a narrative that “while the India occupied Kashmir is yet to become part of Pakistan, the liberated territory has already attained this status.”

“In fact, we are Pakistan was my slogan which had gained acceptance in every nook and cranny of the state,” he said.

He lamented that Mr Haq had forced the people of the state to come onto the streets and was himself hiding in a corner of Kashmir House in the federal capital.

He was of the view that “incompetence and indifference” of the “imposed regime” was denting the interests of Pakistan in Kashmir, as the “hand-picked” prime minister was passing the buck of his failure to the state of Pakistan.

Describing the existing electricity tariff as “a means of extortion”, the business tycoon emphatically stated that there was no justification for swelling the per unit cost from Rs16 to Rs35 after a certain slab.

“Instead of putting burden on the already burdened people, why not explore other avenues to fill the official kitty,” the former AJK PM said, pointing out that the liberated territory was blessed with abundant resources but the “myopic and inert” leadership was unable to look beyond their nose.

“By tapping our rich potential in different sectors, we can create thousands of employment opportunities in the public and private sector. But this needs a visionary and determined leader at the head of the government rather than an unambitious and cloistered person,” he said, in a veiled criticism of Mr Haq who is widely alleged to be avoiding public contacts.

Mr Ilyas claimed that he had a comprehensive and workable plan to bring about a winsome change in the lives of people.

The former premier regretted that Mr Haq’s government was meting out “step-motherly treatment” to the LG institutions by denying them powers and funds.

“Let me assure that when voted to power we will strengthen these institutions without any discrimination because of their vital role in development at the grassroots level. We will also supplement all other measures we had initiated or planned to initiate for the greater good of people from all shades of life,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2023