MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 13: Former AJK prime minister Sultan Mahmood on Monday demanded immediate sacking and arrest of a cabinet member for his alleged involvement in the murder of an opposition worker, warning that inaction on the part of the government could lead to a serious law and order situation in the region.“Since (the concept of) collective responsibility is the basic spirit of parliamentary form of government, continuance of a minister involved in a heinous offence simply means that the entire government is involved in the crime.

“And if there is no action against the culpable minister, the government itself will be responsible for worsening law and order situation,” said the former premier, who also heads People’s Muslim League (PML), a major opposition party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Mahmood was referring to AJK minister for Food Abdul Qayyum Niazi who the PML accuses of being involved in the murder of its worker, Tahir Hanif, out of political rivalry.

The deceased was nephew of Chaudhry Yasin Gulshan, former AJK minister and PML vice-president. He was seriously injured on October 6 during a clash between the Muslim Conference and PML supporters, and had been admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) where he succumbed to his wounds after three days.

Tension between the two sides began on October 4 when a vehicle in which Mr Niazi’s son and nephew were traveling hit another PML worker, Chaudhry Rafique, riding a motorbike in Abbaspur area.

After an altercation, the minister's son allegedly shot and injured Mr Rafique, which triggered serious protest demonstrations under the aegis of PML in the area.

On Saturday, the PML had observed a black day across AJK to protest the murder of its worker.

“Notwithstanding the wrath of PML workers, we have, so far, been exercising restraint to the maximum possible limit. But unfortunately the government is avoiding the warranted action against the accused,” Mr Mahmood said, adding that it was ironical that Mr Niazi was still holding the ministerial slot “although his involvement in the murder of PML worker was beyond question.”

The former prime minister maintained that during his recent foreign tour he had exposed India’s state terrorism in the occupied Kashmir, but it was painful to note that back home “Sardar Attique-led government was engaged in equally atrocious acts of brutality to repress the opposition”.

“At a time when the unprecedented public movement across the Line of Control (LoC) needs complete support from us, the AJK government seems to be hell bent on creating unrest and instability in the region, most probably to pursue the agenda of Kashmir’s permanent division,” he alleged.

Mr Mahmood said he would also summon an all-party conference on the issue and conscientious elements from the ruling party would also be invited to it.

According to him, the support which Sardar Attique enjoyed during the previous autocratic rule of Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf was understandable but his protection by the present federal government was beyond comprehension.

“The silence of federal government functionaries towards the wrongdoings of the AJK setup makes many believe that both are partners. They must take steps to rend this impression.”