MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 30: Former AJK Prime Minister and the People's Party AJK (PPAJK) leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood has openly criticised Chaudhry Abdul Majeed-led government of his own party, though apparently citing alleged non-adjustment of party workers as his primary concern.

Claiming that he had been defending the government until now, Mr Mehmood said after his two-day tour to Muzaffarabad on Thursday and Friday he was compelled to raise voice for the rights of the workers who were in deplorable plight.

“I have tried that the excesses meted out to PPP workers by the Muslim Conference (MC) governments over the past 10 years should be compensated for. But, there is no difference between those 10 years and the past five months of PPAJK government. Our workers are still yearning for their rights,” he said at a public meeting in the nearby Tandali village.

Stating that it was the time of PPAJK workers, he vowed he would not tolerate their “exploitation”.

Mr Mehmood, it may be recalled, was not pleased with the government but had kept mum until recently. However, after his Muzaffarabad tour he is not seen mincing words anymore to express his anger.“Constitutionally and morally, a government should be given six months for evaluation of its performance. I am giving one-month deadline to the government to address the concerns of party workers and pay heed to the welfare of people,” he said.

He claimed that he had also made it clear to the central leadership that PPAJK workers were exasperated for not being accommodated in the government.

Shortly after re-joining PPP, Sultan Mehmood was appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari as in charge of the party's election campaign in AJK.

He was hopeful of his nomination for the coveted slot of prime minister after party's victory in the polls but lady luck smiled on Mr Majeed.

He said he considered Mr Majeed as his “colleague and brother” and did not have “even an iota of glumness” that he could not become prime minister.

“I have held this office for five years and never compromised on the rights of party workers. This is what I seek again today,” he said.

PPAJK leaders close to Mr Majeed declined to comment on the views but one of them claimed that he wanted induction of loyalists against the discretionary posts regardless of their commitment and contributions to the party. “Something the government could hardly accede to”.