PPOOKK NNEEWWSS DDIIGGEESSTT A MONTHLY NEWS DIGEST ON PAKISTAN OCCUPIED KASHMIR Volume 4 Number 8 August 2011 Political Developments PPP's Sardar Yaqoob Elected AJK President Change of Guard: AJK Elects Chaudhry Abdul Majeed as PM Uproar in Senate Over AJK 'Rigging' Azad Kashmir Government: Money Over Merit for Top Slots in AJK G-B Assembly Session: Mehdi Shah 'Protecting Illegal Appointments' Economic Developments KJCCI Welcomes Launching of CBMs J&K JCCI Proposals to Expand Cross-LoC Trade Cross-LoC Trade Remains at Low KeyAfter Resumption International Developments Faryal Meeting Lobbyists to Pick AJK PM Other Developments KKH Rebuilding: Hundreds Protest Over Wage Delays Compiled & Edited by Hunting in G-B Puts Animals in Danger Dr Priyanka Singh Work on Widening of KKH Delayed INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSES No. 1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg New Delhi-110 010 Jammu & Kashmir (Source: Based on the Survey of India Map, Govt of India 2000 ) In this Edition The nomination of Chaudhry Abdul Majid as the new Prime Minister of the so called AJK put a full stop on much of the preceding speculation. There were reportedly hectic parleys before consensus within the victorious side, the PPP, could be reached on the name of the new Prime Minister. Former Prime Minster Barrister Sultan Mehmood’s candidature for the prime ministerial office was almost finalized, as is indicated in one of the reports included in the issue, that he would take oath as the next prime minister of the so called AJK. The report has been accommodated precisely to bring out the extent of uncertainty regarding the issue. Nevertheless, Majid was the final choice for the post after intense discussions took place within the PPP under Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. Meanwhile, Sardar Yaqoob Khan of the PPP, who is also a former prime minister of the so called AJK was elected the next president by majority of votes. He will succeed Raja Zulqarnain who will complete his tenure on the 25th August, 2011. Interestingly, the Interim Constitution of AJK 1974 Act requires that the next president be elected a month in advance before the term of the current incumbent expires. Even though Cross LoC trade resumed after months of breakdown, it is yet to gain momentum. There was a drop in the number of total trucks passing across even as the issue of increasing the number of trading days from two to four per week was discussed just before the Indo Pakistan Foreign Ministerial talks in New Delhi last month. Nonetheless, the traders in AJK have expressed happiness on the increase in the number of CBMs between the two countries which could probably enhance the level of cross LoC trade and transport in future. Priyanka Singh Political Developments Raja Riaz, PPP's Sardar Yaqoob elected AJK AJK premiership was unanimous and he brushed president aside the impression of any divide in the party over his election. Daily Times, July 30, 2011 http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily- MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan People's Party english-online/Regional/Islamabad/28-Jul-2011/AJK-PM- (PPP) candidate, Sardar Yaqoob Khan, has been renounces-any-divide-in-PPP-over-his-election elected new president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Govt to resolve problems of people (AJK) by securing 40 votes on July 29.His rival Khan Bahadur Khan of the Pakistan Muslim Pakistan Observer League-Nawaz (PML-N) obtained only 11 votes. ASTORE: Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Sardar Yaqoob served as the AJK prime minister in Syed Mehdi Shah stated on July 27 that the the last tenure of the legislature and was a health government will resolve the problems of the people minister in Sardar Sikandar Hayat's cabinet in 2001. of district on priority. While addressing a gathering He has a long association with the Muslim at Inter college ground he announced various Conference and joined the PPP a few months before welfare programme for the people of district. The the general elections. chief minister Mehdi Shah also assured that wheat Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian quota would be enhanced. Meanwhile, the top Manzoor Wattoo also cast his vote while PPP leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) congratulated General Secretary Jehangir Badr and several other the newly formed government of Azad Jammu & party leaders were present on the occasion. Besides Kashmir (AJK). In their separate statements, Chief the AJK assembly members, six Kashmir Council Minister GB Syed Mehdi Shah, Speaker GB members, that is considered the upper house of the Assembly Wazir Baig and Deputy Speaker Jamil state, and Pakistan Federal Minister for Kashmir Ahmed expressed the hope that elected PPP Affairs are the voters for presidential elections. The government would work on the interest of the total number of votes are 56 but 51 cast their vote, as masses. The statement further noted that GB and two seats are still vacant. AJK government would make joint efforts for the http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C0 settlement of Kashmir issue in accordance with the 7%5C30%5Cstory_30-7-2011_pg7_1 aspiration of the Kashmiri people. Mushtaq Mughal, AJK PM renounces any http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=105756 divide in PPP over his election Peer Muhammad, Feeble infrastructures: G-B The Nation, July 28, 2011 still reeling from last year's damages ISLAMABAD: Ruling out any split or divide in the The Express Tribune, July 28, 2011 party, newly-elected AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry ISLAMABAD: People from the remote areas of Abdul Majeed stated they were all united under the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) have expressed concern over leadership of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari the government's negligence in repairing roads and and would serve the cause of the people of Azad bridges damaged in last year's floods. They stated Kashmir. In an interview on July 27 in Islamabad, that they face much difficulty while crossing these Ch Abdul Majeed stated his election to the slot of damaged roads and bridges, most of which are built A Monthly Newsletter on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir 2 over fast flowing waters. The infrastructure former Prime Minister Sardar Attique has four damaged by the floods last year had severed the members in the House and MQM has representation region from the rest of the country for almost one with two members while All Parties Hurriyat and a half month. Conference (APHC) has one female member in the House. Most of the damaged infrastructure in remote areas of G-B, including Qadamabad, Hussainabad The PPP continued its 'policy of reconciliation' in (Ishqamghoro), Dass Payeen and Thalti, still AJK as well and the seat given to the APHC was remains unrepaired and is posing threat to the lives conceded to Mrs Mehrunnisa, deputy speaker in the of locals in case of further floods. Local last assembly and wife of APHC leader Yousaf representatives on July 27 demanded the Naseem. She was an active member of Muslim government to repair the damaged roads and Conference but contested the election under the bridges as a priority. banner of APHC and the PPP supported her. This http://tribune.com.pk/story/218912/feeble-infrastructures-g- fact also indicates the unannounced alliance of the b-still-reeling-from-last-years-damages/ PPP and the Muslim Conference. Govt strategy to revive AJK industry http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C0 7%5C25%5Cstory_25-7-2011_pg7_21 The Nation, July 25, 2011 PPP clinches six out of eight AJK Assembly MIRPUR: The government of Azad Jammu & reserved seats Kashmir (AJK) launched a strategy for the revival Daily Times, July 27, 2011 of dozens of sick industrial units located in the industrial districts of Mirpur and Bhimbher in this MUZAFARABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) division to make them the production-earning Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), on July 24, won six concerns, official sources stated. The plan was out of eight reserved seats in the elections for AJK's approved in a recent high level meeting attended Legislative Assembly, raising its strength to 29 in among others by senior officials of the state the House of 49. Elections for the reserved seats industries department and representatives of the were held at the assembly building. PPP secured six local business fraternity. Sources stated that the seats, three for women and one each for ulema government was determined to accelerate the pace mashaikh (religious scholars), technocrats and of Industrial development in AJK by getting laid the overseas Kashmiris, while Pakistan Muslim network of industries by the private sector in League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muslim various parts of AJK particularly in Mirpur division. Conference won one woman seat each. Those who http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily- were elected on five reserved seats for women english-online/Business/25-Jul-2011/Govt-strategy--to- included PPP's Shazia Akbar, Sadaf Sheikh and revive-AJK-industry Shaheen Dar, Fauzia Ashraf of PML-N and Meher- u-Nisa of Muslim Conference, whose victory was Raja Riaz, PPP continues 'reconciliatory policy' facilitated by two votes of PPP. in AJK http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C0 Daily Times, July 25, 2011 7%5C25%5Cstory_25-7-2011_pg1_5 LAHORE: The ninth legislative council of AJK Shahbbir Mir, Post landslide: Displaced took oath on July 25 as the result of 48 seats out of Haramosh locals threaten to block Gilgit- 49 has been notified by the election commission. Skardu highway According to the latest position after the elections on 'reserved seats', the PPP leads the House with 29 The Express Tribune, July 25, 2011 seats while the second largest party is PML-N with GILGIT: The government's inability to provide 11 legislators.