AJK local bodies representatives demanded the release of funds according to Court Order

Islamabad: Local government representatives across Azad Kashmir have warned the government that withholding of their local government funds will not be allowed, and any legislation by the government regarding usurpation of local government funds will be vigorously resisted, and that all entry points, will be closed , including sit-ins outside the Legislative Assembly. While holding a press conference at the National Press Club, Islamabad, local government representatives from across Azad Kashmir, focal person Sardar Javed Sharif Advocate, Mir Imtiaz Ahmed Central Secretary, Daud Khan Chairman Municipal Committee Jhelum Valley, Isra Abbasi Vice Chairman UC Mukhiya Dhirkot,Chairman, Tariq Masood Advocate Member Legal Committee, Sardar Iftikhar Advocate Member Legal Committee, Chaudhry Abrarul Haq Advocate Member District Council and Coordination Committee, Sardar Imtiaz Ahmed Abbasi Chairman District Council Muzaffarabad, Professor Asif Khan Chairman Bagh, Sardar Abdul Naeem Mayor Municipal Committee Rawalakot, Rashid Sarfaraz Member Municipal Corporation, Sardar Nazir Member District Council Poonch, Sardar Mumtaz Member District Council Sardar Aftab Arif and others said that.Local government elections were held in Azad Kashmir after thirty years on the orders of the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir. The deviation of all political parties including the government from local government elections for thirty years shows their malice. Regarding local government institutions, we stand by the decision of the Azad Kashmir High Court, in which the court clearly states that the assembly members do not have the authority to spend the budget allocated to the local government. And this money can be spent only through local bodies. The job of the members of the Legislative Assembly is to make legislation, and it is the job of local bodies to carry out development work. The elite has increased their salaries and those of their members many times over, and each MLA is being given crores of rupees in funds, while no funds have been released to local body representatives. We have received indications that the government is going to legislate to usurp the funds of local bodies.Any attempt by the government to bulldoze the rights of local government bodies through legislation will be vigorously resisted, and all entry points, including the siege of the assembly, will be closed, and the rights of our voters, which is the primary duty of local government members, will be protected at all costs.