Azad
Kashmir assembly election 2016 has been just concluded this week.
According to official results Nawaz league has secured 32 seats out 41 total
seats based on direct voting. The other seats are technocrats, women and
Scholars which would be allotted to each wining party as per their average
total will be 49 seats. It is really hard to believe that Nawaz league has
clean sweep in this election but opposition parties have been complaining of
pre poll rigging. It has been observed trend among AJK voters that they mostly
vote for that party which is in throne in Islamabad.
Power lies with AJK Council and Pakistani PM can dismiss AJK elected PM any time without telling any reason and it has been done several times . Ministry of Kashmir affairs and lent officers are also from Pakistan and rest of the power lies with them. Minister of Kashmir affairs never elected by AJK voters but he has been elected by Pakistani voters.
Lent officers and Kashmir
affairs ministers have neither been answerable to AJK government nor local
voters. Kashmir council has authority to even collect taxes and other
revenues from AJK citizen without consulting AJK government. Act 1974 has 56
clauses and 53 of them used by Kashmir council. AJK government has been elected
by local state citizen but it can stay at the helm of affairs as long as
masters in Islamabad are happy with it.
Unemployment is 90% among local
educated youth and it has been forcing skilled and unskilled workers to migrate
to other countries. As a result of economic hardship, 47% AJK
population has been living abroad and rest goes to seek employment in Pakistani
cities where they take odd jobs. There has not been single state institution
locally provides jobs training and job opportunities to educated youth.
Would it be possible for Noon league elected leadership to
take back their rights to decide for their citizens and voters?
Second step would be to take control of finance to get financial independence
locally. If AJK elected government would not take these steps what would be
reaction to state citizens? Only change can satisfy AJK citizens and
restore their basic citizenship rights. Time will only answer this
question.
It is really hard to believe that Nawaz league has clean sweep in this election but opposition parties have been complaining of pre poll rigging. It has been observed trend among AJK voters that they mostly vote for that party which is in throne in Islamabad.
By - Javed Inayat
From - Pakistan OccupiedKashmir