MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 23: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has invited AJK’s political leadership at his residence in the federal capital on Thursday next to seek their recommendations regarding the much-talked about amendments to AJK’s Interim Constitution Act, 1974.
In a letter addressed to the AJK leadership, Mr Wattoo had maintained that the present elected coalition government (in Pakistan) headed by the PPP was willing to consider making certain amendments to the AJK’s Interim Constitution “to facilitate the people of AJK”.
The letter was sent to AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed (president PPP-AJK), former premier Barrister Sultan Mahmood (PPP-AJK), senior minister/senior vice chairman PPP-AJK, secretary general PPP-AJK, former premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan (president Muslim Conference), former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider (president PML-N AJK), former president and prime minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat (PML-N), Abdul Rashid Turabi (Ameer JIAJK), Sardar Khalid Ibrahim (president JK Peoples Party), Justice (retired) Abdul Majeed Malik (president JK Liberation League) and Pir Muhammad Attiqur Rehman Faizpuri (president Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-JK). However, its copies had also been sent to members of the AJK Legislative Assembly and the AJK Council and national media.
Stating that the PPP-AJK and some other political parties were pressing for certain amendments in the constitution, Mr Wattoo said he had invited all party heads for discussion and reaching a consensus regarding the “appointment of Chief Election Commissioner, enhancement of AJK Council seats, certain addition to AJK Legislative Assembly seats, role of the AJK Council, mechanism for appointment of chairman and deputy chairman AJK Ehtesab Bureau and other related matters.”
However, the letter had no specific mention of constitution of a judicial commission in AJK and devolution of powers to the AJK government by abolishing the dichotomy of legislative and executive powers between the AJK Legislative Assembly and the AJK Council.
Twice referring to AJK as ‘base camp’ (launch pad of freedom movement), the minister appeared optimist at arriving at a consensus on matters mentioned by him in his letter.
“I will certainly take the recommendations to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the co-chairperson of PPP, the President of Pakistan, for consideration,” he had said in his letter.
Interestingly, while senior vice president and secretary general of the ruling PPP-AJK had been invited to the meeting, no such invitation was extended to their counterparts from the main opposition PML-N which has been at the forefront of campaign for constitutional reforms in AJK.
It may be recalled that in October 2009, the then prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had announced in Muzaffarabad that a committee would be formed in consultation with the AJK president, prime minister and the leader of the opposition to consider proposals/amendments for improvements in the interim constitution.
However, no formal notification was issued by Mr Gilani’s office, although he was formally reminded about it in May 2010 by then AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider.
In the recent session of AJK Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister Majeed had also announced constitution of a “constitutional reforms committee” of the AJK Assembly which was later notified by the LA secretariat.
However, the committee has not held any formal meeting until now.
Meanwhile, the PML-N AJK had called a meeting on August 25 to decide its course of action regarding Mr Wattoo’s invitation.