AJK political crisis resolution likely by mid-December

* Second reconciliation meeting after Eid

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The seven-month-old political crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is likely to be resolved by the middle of December as a second reconciliation meeting between AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and the ruling Muslim Conference splinter group will be held after Eid.

“A meeting to resolve the political crisis in the AJK government is likely to be held after Eid. The power sharing formula and the government will be finalised,” sources informed Daily Times.

“Both sides have shown flexibility in their stances and have agreed to hold another meeting to discuss the power sharing formula. It is most likely that the issue will be resolved by the middle of next month,” sources said.

These sources added that meeting held last week between the AJK prime minister and the splinter group of the Muslim Conference led by former AJK finance minister Shah Ghulam Qadir ended on a positive note.

Sources said the splinter group has withdrawn its main condition that the AJK prime minister resign.

The AKJ prime minister also agreed to accommodate ministers who earlier resigned from the Cabinet. “During the previous meeting, the splinter group demanded that the prime minister dissolve the present government and constitute a new Cabinet,” sources said.

Sources added that the splinter group has demanded that the speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly be nominated from their group. “They have also demanded that 50 percent of the Cabinet members be taken from their group,” sources said.

“The dissident group of the Muslim Conference demanded important ministries like finance and local government along with the speaker’s slot,” sources said.

Sources said the AJK prime minister has also shown flexibility on these issues, but a final decision will be made during the second meeting. Former AJK finance minister Shah Ghulam Qadir told Daily Times that the last meeting was positive and the dispute would be resolved.

“This issue will be resolved on the basis of give and take,” he said.

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