ISLAMABAD: Mr Ahmad Raza Kasuri jum­ped a surprise on the National Assembly when during the debate on the Baluchistan situation tonight [May 26] he loudly remarked that the situation in Azad Kashmir had also become “serious — telephone lines with Muz­a­­ffarabad have been disconnected and the Azad Kashmir President Sardar Abdul Qaiy­­um Khan, has been arrested”. He insisted that the situation in Azad Kashmir also dese­r­­­ved the House’s early attention. “The country is being ruined,” he shouted. Mr Ali Ahmad Talpur also rose shouting: “I support his statement that the country is being rui­ned.” Both had just butted in while the debate on the Baluchistan situation was still on. …

The Home Minister, Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, was present in the House: but he did not care to refute Mr Kasuri’s statement about Azad Kashmir. However, there were constant rumours in the lobbies about the situation in Azad Kashmir. One of them said that the Azad Kashmir Assembly had been dissolved by Sar­­dar Abdul Qaiyum. Another said that he had been removed from the Presidentship and arrested. Contacted by newsmen later, the Home Minister said he did not know the latest position. But, he believed that Sardar Qaiyum was still in office. — Special Representative

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2023