ISLAMABAD: The opposition members in the National Assembly Tuesday raised questions over fairness and transparency in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, while alleging direct intervention in the process by the federal government.
Speaking on a point of order, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) parliamentarian Khurram Dastgir Khan asked the prime minister and his cabinet members to refrain from interfering in the AJK election to give a message to the international community that Pakistan ensures protection of democratic rights of the Kashmiri people.
“In recognition of sacrifices of over 100,000 Kashmiris, we must give democratic rights to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir by holding fair and free elections,” he said. But to the contrary, Khurram Dastgir alleged, a federal minister had been distributing money and promising more to candidates on winning elections. “There are also videos showing ministers giving money to candidates and people,” he said. The PMLN member said he was raising the issue on July 13 which is observed as Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir. “This is also a matter of Pakistan’s Kashmir case, which the PTI government has lost,” he said. He pointed out that the Indian prime minister is talking about delimitation of constituencies in the Occupied Kashmir while ministers of the PTI government are offering money during the election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “Then what difference is left between actions of the two sides,” he questioned.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said free, fair and transparent elections will be conducted in Azad Kashmir.
Responding to the points of Khurram Dastagir, he said the PMLN was in power in Azad Kashmir over the last five years, but it gave nothing to the territory except dilapidated roads, and faulty health and education infrastructure. He said they have a programme for the uplift of Azad Kashmir. The minister of state said Kashmir is our jugular vein. He said Pakistan has a principled position on Kashmir dispute that it must be resolved as per the UN Security Council Resolutions. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has forcefully raised the Kashmir dispute at all the international forums.
The PPP parliamentarian Abdul Qadir Patel accused the PTI government in Islamabad of trying to purchase votes of Kashmiri people. “The federal government is trying to purchase votes of Kashmiri people who never bowed before India,” he said.
PMLN parliamentarian Ahsan Iqbal said the PTI government was continuously disobeying verdict of the Supreme Court to restore local governments in the Punjab province. He recalled that a PM was sent home for not implementing the SC orders, but the verdict of the apex court had not been implemented in the last three-and-a half months. Ahsan demanded the Supreme Court chief justice take notice of delay in implementation of the order. “Around 58,000 local bodies representatives are being denied their rights which is also resulting in sense of deprivation among people of the Punjab province,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PTI member Khwaja Shiraz Mahmood, on a calling attention notice, complained that the Punjab province was not receiving the required quantity of water from Chashma Right Bank Canal. “As per water accord, the Punjab province is promised 1800 cusics of water, but at present it is receiving 500 to 600 cusics,” he said. Khawaja Shiraz said he would not talk of resorting to agitation as he belonged to the ruling party, but added that Punjab should be given its due share of water.
Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources Saleh Muhammad told the house that Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were being provided with their due share of water whilst the water release to Punjab and Sindh today only faced a shortage of two per cent. He said distribution of water amongst the provinces was the responsibility of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA). He pointed out that there was a shortage of water due to less rains in January, February and March. He, however, said the water situation was now improving in rivers and the provinces would be provided with water as per their share.
The deputy speaker, during introduction of private members bills, took notice of absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries, and asked them to take interest in the house business.
The bills introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday included the Central Law Officers Bill, the Constitution Amendment bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article 185), Pakistan Penal Code Amendment bill (Section 369 A), the National Commission for Minorities Bill, the National Commission for Rights of Non-Muslims Bill, Pakistan Baitul Mal Amendment Bill and the Constitution Amendment Bill (Amendment in Article-156). The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned.