AJK Council budget approved

ISLAMABAD – The 44th session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, under the chair of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, gave approval to the AJK Council budget for year 2009-10 and revised estimates for the year 2008-09.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, who is also in charge of AJK Council, moved the bills before the council including the budget of the council for year 2009-10.
The council also approved the Finance Accounts and Appropriation Accounts of the AJK Council for the year 2006-07. The Council also passed the bill titled “The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Income Tax (Adaptation) Act, 2009”.
The House offered Fateha for the martyrs who have laid down their lives in the heroic struggle for freedom in the Indian Held Kashmir.
In his opening statement, the Prime Minister said the future of both Pakistan and Kashmir is intertwined with shared destinies based on shared values, culture, history, traditions and a rich Islamic heritage. Kashmir dispute is central to Pakistan-India relations and holds the key to durable peace in the region, he added.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Pakistan would continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination. He said Pakistan has called for an end to human rights violations in Indian Held Kashmir and has impressed upon India to repeal the draconian laws in this regard.
Admiring the Kashmiris for their valiant struggle, the Prime Minister said they have rendered great sacrifices in the last six decades to achieve their just right to determine their future according to their wishes in a free and fair environment.
He said Pakistan has been making consistent efforts to project the Kashmir cause on all important international forums particularly in the United Nations General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and OIC, while “Kashmir Solidarity Day” and “Black Day” are observed every year in Pakistan as well as abroad. Referring to his meeting with world leaders, the Prime Minister said he always highlighted the issue before them and made them realise that peace and stability in South Asia can only be guaranteed if all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India including the Kashmir dispute are resolved. Non-resolution of outstanding issues is impeding the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to effectively counter the menace of terrorism, he added.
The Prime Minister underlined the need for early resumption of stalled dialogue process with India. He, however, mentioned that the dialogue must be meaningful and result-oriented particularly on the issue of terrorism. He impressed upon India and the rest of the world that terrorism is the real issue.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has shown commitment to reverse the course of confrontation in South Asia. Pakistan is ready to start a journey of peace and accommodation in order to provide a better environment to the people to prosper and develop. He expressed the hope that both the Governments of Pakistan and India would live up to the expectations of their own people as well as of the people of Kashmir so that the dream of lasting peace in South Asia can be realised.
The Prime Minister said that Kashmiris are a party to the dispute and Pakistan believes that they are an integral component of the peace process. Therefore, they should be included in the dialogue process to make it more meaningful and result-oriented. He assured the Kashmiri brethren that the Government and the people of Pakistan will always stand by them at all times, until they succeed in their struggle to achieve their right to self-determination.
The meeting was attended by President AJK Raja Zulqarnian Khan, Prime Minister AJK Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, MNA Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, MNA Sherry Rehman, MNA/Member Abdul Raziq Afridi, Advisor to Chairman AJK Council Sardar Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Advisor to Chairman AJK Council Shazia Khatoon, Advisor to Chairman Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi, Member Pervaiz Akhtar, Member Sardar Nasim Ahmed Sarfraz Khan, Member Raja Iftikhar Ayub, Member Sardar Farooq Sikandar, Member Hamid Khan, Member Mohammad Ehtisham Khan, Secretary AJK Council and Chief Secretary AJK.
Prior to the Council Meeting, President and Prime Minister AJK called on the Prime Minister and apprised him of matters pertaining to development projects in AJK.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online//Politics/20-Dec-2009/Stalled-PakIndia-talks-affect-antiterror-efforts