MUZAFFARABAD, March 28: The AJK Legislative Assembly on Thursday decided to constitute a committee to look into the matters related to the provision of compensation to those people, who have been affected by the Indian shelling along the Line of Control.

The decision was taken on the suggestion of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, the chairman of the National Kashmir Committee and member of the assembly, during a debate on two adjournment motions, tabled by opposition MLAs Muhammad Munir Awan and Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed.

The MLAs alleged that the government was not treating the affected population along the LoC evenhandedly, and rather a policy of “pick and choose” was being practised.

They claimed that only 12,000 out of the 37,000 affected people in the Samahni sector had been provided with compensation while the package announced for the Neelum and Leepa valleys in Muzaffarabad was still awaiting implementation.

Declaring the motions in accordance with the rules, Speaker Sardar Siab Khalid asked the legislators from both sides to express their views on the issue.

Sardar Qayyum suggested that a committee, comprising MLAs from the border areas, be constituted to ensure fair distribution of compensation to the victims of the Indian shelling. Residents of the border areas from every party could also be given token representation in such committee, he added.

The speaker said he would name the members of the committee shortly after consultations with the leaders of both sides.

LEGISLATION: The house adopted four bills in accordance with the reports of the respective select committees. These were: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Act, 2002; The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Adaptation) Act, 2002; The Prime Minister Inspection and Implementation Commission Act, 2002; and The Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Act, 2002.