MUZAFFARABAD: A Pakistani citizen serving in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Council has sent an application to the Cabinet Division under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, seeking details regarding the exercise of authority and use of movable and immovable resources of the AJK Council secretariat by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engr Amir Muqam.

In the application, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn, Uzair Ahmed, a section officer, noted that the AJK Council was declared by the Azad Kashmir government as a special institution/autonomous body under its law, justice, parliamentary affairs, and human rights department.

Citing Article 51-A of the AJK Interim Constitution and the revised AJK Rules of Business, 1985, the applicant said the AJK Council Secretariat had no direct link with the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (KA&GB).

Therefore, the federal minister had no role beyond that of an ex-officio member of the Council.

Using the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, Mr Ahmed asked the cabinet secretary to clarify under which applicable rules and laws Mr Muqam was managing the affairs of the AJK Council Secretariat and granting executive, financial and administrative approvals related to its operations.

Referring to the ‘Rules for Use of Staff Cars, 1980,’ the applicant further questioned how the federal minister and his family members were utilising official vehicles and receiving fuel from the AJK Council Secretariat and the GB Council, in addition to vehicle(s) provided by the Cabinet Division, both within and outside the territorial limits of the federal capital.

Lastly, the applicant sought clarification on the legal grounds and approval process by which the federal minister was “occupying an entire floor, along with multiple offices, at the AJK Council Secretariat in Sector F-5/2, Islamabad”.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024