MIRPUR (AJK) -The Azad Jammu and Kashmir cabinet has approved the authentication of the laws applicable in Pakistan regarding the finality of Prophethood, and constituted a 5-member committee for the implementation of the laws in AJK.
The cabinet met in the State’s metropolis late Tuesday with AJK Prime Minister Farooq Haider in the chair.
The meeting was attended among others by Senior Minister Ch. Tariq Farooq, Ministers Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan, Ch. Muhammad Aziz, Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Sardar Mir Akbar, Mrs. Noreen Arif, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, Sardar Farooq Sikander, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, Ch. Muhammad Saeed, Nasir Hussain Dar, Advisor K.B Khan, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary development, Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), Secretaries and other concerned senior officials of the AJK Govt.
The Committee for the finality of Prophet Hood (SAWW) and implementation of laws will be headed by AJK Minister for Law Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan with Members of AJK Legislative Assembly Syed Ali Raza Bukhari, Raja Muhammad Siddique, Secretary Law Irshad Qureshi and Advocate General Raza Ali Khan as members.
The meeting decided to reduce tax payments and a committee headed by Minister for Finance was set up to review Stamp duty, Transfer of Registration Tax and other local taxes. It will submit their report within a month. The committee will consist of Minister for Revenue Farooq Sikander, SMBR Fayyaz Ali Abbasi, Secretary Finance Fareed Tarrar, and Secretary Law Irshad Qureshi.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Bureau Act (Amended) and Criminal Law Act 2017 (amended) has also been approved, designation of Deputy Chairman Accountability Court has been eliminated in Accountability Bureau Act amended while in Criminal Law Act ensured safety for force marriages and set imprisonment of 3 to 5 years besides implementing fine up to 0.5 million rupees.
Cabinet meeting maintained the decision of subsidy on flour, another decision has been made to create a committee regarding grant of 10% reduction in grant in aid to the development organizations which will submit the report by reviewing all the matters.
The decision of immediate completion of water supply scheme and sewage system in Mirpur has been taken in addition of taking notice on extra payments of Package 5, 7 and 8 in Mangla Up raising Scheme.
Instructions have been issued for immediate completion of the issuing inquiry reports against the government officers and the authorities concerned have been given 2 months to complete the process.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, AJK Prime Minister said that the inquiry against government officials should be completed as soon as possible so that the punishment and penalty can be decided according to the law, the report must be presented within two months
AJK Chief Secretary was instructed on the public complaints against forced loadshedding by taking up the issue with the Federal Ministry of Water and Power to end load shedding in AJK. The cabinet was informed that contracts were cancelled for water supply and sewage schemes in Mirpur and additional payment of 1 billion 300 million rupees has been revealed by the third party verification. Committee has been set up in the case to find out the persons involved in it.
Cabinet members also apprised the Prime Minister that a Rs2.8 billion was required for completion of public projects under Mangla-raising project while water supply scheme cannot be completed due to water shortage in Mirpur.
The prime minister said that the people of Mirpur are direct affectees of Mangla raising project who twice sacrificed for Pakistan and incumbent government will facilitate them at any cost. “The references against the contractors have already been sent to accountability court and proceedings against the accused are on final stage, those who are involved in negligence will not be forgiven but punished,” the PM stated.