MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 17: The AJK cabinet on Tuesday constituted several committees to what the information minister later said ensure rule of law and merit and establish a corruption-free society delivering justice in all spheres of life without any discrimination.

The cabinet which met with Prime Minister Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan in the chair took up heavy business and witnessed threadbare discussion at its first formal meeting after the inception of the present government in the first week of last month.

Health Minister Sardar Qamaruz Zaman Khan was, however, conspicuous by his absence as he is said to be unhappy with his portfolio.

"The basic objective of this government has been to deliver justice and development to the people and today's session was held with the same spirit. The cabinet has taken a number of decisions under a three-point agenda,” said Information Minsiter Abdul Majid Khan at a briefing to mediapersons.

"We will not make hollow claims and announcements like that of the previous government. We will announce and implement what's within our reach and resources,” added the minister who was flanked by his three colleagues and secretary information Fayaz Ali Abbasi.

He said a five-member committee headed by the law minister had been formed to ensure implementation of law and merit in every area. A three-member committee headed by transport minister will take measures to ensure implementation of the transport policy of 1993.

The cabinet also decided to probe into the administrative and financial irregularities in all development authorities. Another three-member committee comprising retired district judges would investigate “unlawful allotments and revision of plots by Mirpur Development Authority and Municipal Corporation Mirpur and present its report to the cabinet within one month.”

The minister said the “debris scandal” in Muzaffarabad would also be probed by the Public Accounts Committee which had earlier investigated a similar scandal in Bagh. The government would also take action according to the PAC findings about the debris removal project of Bagh.

A four-member committee headed by minister for education (schools) would probe financial and administrative irregularities and corruption in development projects executed by the local government and rural development department whereas another three-member committee headed by minister for industries would look into each case of leasing of state land for industrial purposes and report back within a month. Similarly, he said, another committee would look into the irregularities and suggest reforms in the administrative structure of AJK Rural Support Programme and AJK Community Development Programme.

He said there had been serious financial irregularities in the development of website of former prime minister as well as recruitment of staff and other matters of AJK Information Technology Board which another committee had been tasked to unearth.

A committee was formed to suggest recommendations about a law regarding the privileges and allowances for the former prime ministers. An amendment was introduced in the law reportedly after one former prime minister had demanded that they should also be provided with a stenographer and peon apart from a driver-cum-gunman, a car with 400 litres of fuel per month and Rs25,000 as house rent which they are already entitled to.

However, sources told Dawn that most of the cabinet members had opposed the act and called for its repeal.