ISLAMABAD Dec 12: Changes are being brought in the political culture and elected representatives have to adjust themselves according to the new situation, Federal Kashmir Affairs Minister Abbas Sarfaraz Khan said.

He was talking to a delegation of the elected members of the AJK Council at a meeting.

He said the elected representatives of Azad Kashmir should accept challenges of the new emerging political scene. He said discretionary quotas were being eliminated and major steps being taken to set up a corruption-free society. He said he had abolished all his quotas of discretionary powers.

On the complaint of the elected members about scarcity of resources to meet the people’s demand, the minister said merit should be the only criteria for getting anything.

Referring to various development activities being undertaken by the AJK Council in Azad Kashmir, the minister said the executing agencies should make efforts to complete ongoing projects in time.

Mr Abbas further stated that the AJK council was spending huge funds on development works. He said though the Council retained only 20 per cent of the income tax, it was spending huge funds on development projects in Azad Kashmir.

It is worth mentioning that a major chunk i.e. 80 per cent of the income tax which the AJK council collects from Azad Kashmir is given to the AJK government.

The meeting was also attended by Mohammad Matloob Inkalabi, Col (Rtd) Inamul Haq, Sardar Sawar Khan, Mumtaz Hussain Naqvi and Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi.

The secretary, AJK Council Secretariat, Shafqat Ezdi Shah, and Joint Secretary S.M. Junaid were also present.