ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: Go-ahead has reportedly been given to a political change in Azad Kashmir to put to an end the uncertainty hovering over the state government due to the increasing acrimony between the president and the prime minister, sources told Dawn on Wednesday.
AJK President Sardar Mohammad Anwar Khan had complained to the army establishment about steps taken by Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat’s government bypassing his orders.
The AJK president held an hour-long meeting with president Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday night at Army House, Rawalpindi, and discussed different issues, including his relationship with the political government, sources said.
There seemed no plan of inviting Sikandar Hayat against an impression that President Musharraf might try a patch up between the AJK leaders.
An official at AJK PM’s office, when contacted, said: “He left for the AJK capital the other day and is expected to stay there for another couple of days. He has no programme at hand to meet President Musharraf.”
A source close to AJK President’s House disclosed that a move to change the leadership of AJK government had been agreed upon during the meeting.
Anwar Khan, a retired major-general, had earlier met Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Yusuf Khan and Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Aziz Khan at general headquarters and Corps Commander Lt-Gen Arif Hassan and Rawalpindi corps headquarters. He discussed with the officials issues relating to the working of the AJK government and possible action in this regard.
According to a press release issued by the office of the AJK president: “Sardar Anwar Khan briefed president of Pakistan on his recent visit to the United States and also discussed matters pertaining to the state government.”
They discussed issues relating to Mangla Dam raising and the controversy started by the opponents of the project.
The people in AJK had held widespread protest rallies against the ground-breaking of the project performed by President Musharraf on Sept 30.
Sardar Anwar discussed with the president the devolution of power plan for Azad Kashmir and briefed him on the actions taken in this respect.
The possibilities of establishing the rule of law and good governance in AJK was discussed and it was agreed that the accountability process should be accelerated.
They agreed on the necessity of across the board accountability by making it impartial and effective so that no one found involved in corruption should be spared. Sardar Anwar assured the president that steps would be taken for good governance and accountability.
They also discussed the election drama in occupied Kashmir.
President Musharraf assured the Kashmiris that Pakistan would continue its principled support to the people of occupied Kashmir.