MUZAFFARABAD, June 3: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government faced a sequence of awkward moments in the Legislative Assembly here on Tuesday after some treasury members joined the opposition benches in criticising a piece of law as well as alleged corruption in a debris removal project.

The most unpleasant and unfavourable situation, however, developed after Law Minister Abdul Rashid Abbasi tabled the report of a select committee on “Kashmir Cell Act, 2008” before the house, chaired by Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir.

The bill proposed conversion of “Kashmir Liberation Cell”, constituted in May 1987 to project Kashmir cause, into “Kashmir Cell” as an autonomous institution with its main (administrative) office in Muzaffarabad and (research) centres in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and abroad.

The executive and policy affairs of the cell, according to the bill, were vested in a board comprising AJK prime minister (chairman), chief secretary, secretary S&GAD, secretary finance, secretary to prime minister, secretary Kashmir Cell and ex- officio member nominated by chairman.

The bill also proposed indemnity to the acts and proceedings taken by the Cell “in good faith”, which shall not be challenged in any court by a suit or otherwise.

The first bout of criticism against the bill came from ruling party’s outspoken lawmaker Raja Farooq Haider, who took strong exception to omission of the word “liberation” from the institution’s name, saying it had created ambiguity.

“The freedom movement is being impaired, and such statements are being given which tend to be giving support to Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Sayeed for their success in forthcoming state assembly elections in occupied Kashmir,” he said.

Mr Haider alleged that bill was designed to hurriedly confirm the jobs of favourites and could not be endorsed.

Chaudhry Anwaarul Haq of the opposition People’s Muslim League (PML) expressed surprise that a government repetitiously talking about the (freedom) movement was afraid of the word liberation.

“If liberation was not the aim then what was the point of globe-tottering and other extravagances in the name of Kashmir in the past,” he questioned, adding if the cell was not for liberation it obviously meant it was for employment of the Abbasis.

The PML lawmaker also pointed fingers at the award of contract of Kashmir Centre Lahore against Rs160 million without obtaining bank guarantee from the contractor. He pointed out that in all the recognised democracies of the world, sensitive issues were projected through the public representatives but it was other way round in AJK.

“We know the opposition does not figure anywhere, but it seems the government does not trust its own people,” he said.

Surprisingly, none from the treasury benches stood up to defend the bill. Instead, minister for works Raja Nasim Khan threw his weight behind the opposition, as he called for review and modification of the bill.

“The composition of board is unrealistic and biased,” he said, asking his colleagues to accept the opposition’s viewpoint as a goodwill gesture and a positive move.

Mr Khan, a retired army colonel, further suggested that the word liberation should be retained in the institution’s name because the basic objective was liberation of Kashmir.

Prime Minister’s adviser Raja Munsaf Dad, also an ex- serviceman, seconded the views of minister, and said: “Unless we change our approach we cannot justify our sitting here.”

The mood of the house compelled the law minister to refer the bill to a new select committee, comprising finance minister Raja Nisar Ahmed, Ms Arif and Mr Haider from treasury and Chaudhry Latif Akbar and Mr Haq from opposition.

DEBRIS REMOVAL: In question hour, the opposition gave tough time to the treasury, alleging that around Rs34 million had allegedly been embezzled in the name of debris removal in Bagh city which needed to be probed through a special house committee. Two treasury members also supported the demand.

However, after a heated debate, the chair referred the issue to the Public Accounts Committee for investigations.