Prime minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Yaqoob Khan faces strong opposition from his cabinet and leaders of the coalition parties over “sell out” of Azad Kashmir Rural Supports Programme (AJKRSP). Mr. Khan virtually merged AJKRSP with Pakistan’s controversial so called non-profitable NGO ?National Rural Supports Programme. The organisation’s officials are widely accused of siphoning off earthquake victims’ money. AKRSP was merged with NRSP early this month after newly constituted 14 ?member board of directors selected Shoib Sultan as chairman of AJKRSP. He also happens to be the chairman of National Rural Supports Programme (NRSP). AJK prime minister’s special assistant Sardar Sadiq Ahmad Khan-an infamous former bureaucrat-was selected as vice chairman of the organization. The board of directors includes Additional chief secretary development, Secretary Agriculture, Secretary Local Government, Special Assistant to prime minister, former bureaucrats and four top officials from National Rural Supports Programme. The chairman and chief executive of AJKRSP are among four members of NRSP. The decision was not less than a bombshell for people in Azad Kashmir as NRSP is not seen as a credible organization in the region. From the common man to politicians and government functionaries, all are united against prime minister’s decision. AJK prime minister faced embarrassment in a cabinet meeting last week when almost all his ministers criticized him for this decision. They sought reversal of the decision without any further delay. He could not find a single voice in favour of his decision. Sources say that prime minister managed to escape the situation after he held out assurance to members of the cabinet that he would undo the decision. “Prime minister told us that the vice-chairman of so-called AJKRSP would brief cabinet members within next fifteen days and will reverse the decision if he fails to satisfy ministers”, One of the ministers said. Prime minister made the controversial decision of merging AJKRSP with National Rural Supports Programme clandestinely without taking cabinet members and coalition partners into confidence. “We were not taken into confidence and we came to know about it through newspapers,” said a cabinet member. May of them call it the sell out of state institution. “We won’t let anyone sell out our institutions and we will fight tooth and nail to protect them”, another cabinet member says. Sources in Prime Minister Secretariat say Sardar Sadiq Ahmad Khan played a key role in convincing Prime Miniter to merge AJKRSP with NRSP. The president of the ruling Muslim Conference-Raja Farooq Haidar Khan-also came down hard on Prime Minister. He publicly denounced his prime ministers over this decision. “There should not be an impression that state institutions are on sale for kickbacks and that PM should withdraw its decision”, he told a group of journalists. Prime minister Khan now appears to be alone and there is hardly any supporter in AJK of the Prime Minister’s decision. Other coalition parties of the government including Ruling PPP, MQM and Peoples Muslim League are seeking withdrawal of the decision. Opposition parties are also condemning this action by the Prime Minister. “Some government functionaries are even willing to sell mother land for their vested interests”, Rashid Ali ?a college student. “We won’t let a few people to make entire state and its people hostage”, he said. “Now time has come to set free our state from these vested interests”. It is an open secret that controversial NRSP viewed AJKRSP as threat and it has been conspiring against it for a while. Its (NRSP’s) ulterior motives against AJKRSP could be gauged from the fact that World Bank refused to award “Earthquake Additional Financing Project” to AJRSP after strong opposition from NRSP. This was in spite of the fact that AJKRSP has more qualified for it. NRSP had also applied for the project but it could not qualify. Under the project, 27 schools are being built in district Muzaffarabad and World Bank is now executing it through LG&RD. National Rural Supports Programme(NRSP) has been in the cente of controversy since it began its operations in Kashmir after the earthquake. Its officials have been found involved in corruption, misusing and spoiling earthquake victims’ money, child labour and exploitation and sexual harassment of women employees. Prime minister is also under fire for giving go ahead for the appointment of junior officer of NRSP as Chief Executive Officer of AJKRSP-ignoring much more qualified and experienced people. State officials say that PM has set the worst example of nepotism by appointing an ineligible and the highly controversial person as CEO of AJKRSP. AJK government appointed Attiq Ur-Rehman-a former government data entry operator -as chief executive of AJKRSP. Mr. Attiq is also holding the position of Regional Programme Officer (RPO’s)-a junior position-in Pakistan’s National Rural Supports Programme (NRSP), thanks to October 8, 2005 earthquake. The requisite qualification for the post of the AJKRSP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was masters degree or higher qualification in a relevant discipline with 15 years’ experience at a senior level in relevant field (rural development). But the man appointed as CEO is not eligible for the post because he neither possesses required qualification and experience nor does he have any standing. NRSP’s Chairman Shoib Sultan announced his RPO’s name as CEO of AJKRSP immediately after he was selected as chairman of AJKRSP early this month. AJK planning and development department issued an appointment order of Mr. Attiq as CEO of AJK Rural Supports Programme (AJKRSP) soon after the announcement. He has been appointed as CEO despite much more qualified and experienced people were available in AJKRSP itself. “Mr. Sultan made the announcement arbitrarily without consulting directors of the board,” said one of the directors. “We were not consulted before Attiq’s name was announced for the post of CEO”, he said.“We were completely caught off guard”, he said. He (Shoib Sultan) came, issued a Fatwa (decree), and left, he added. “We are completely shocked over the decision; It is our humiliation; our heads are down with shame” he added. “It is the worst example of nepotism in the recent history of Azad Kashmir,” he added. Many people are the view that board of directors appears nothing more than a mockery. They lambasted the board for failing to block the appointment of an ineligible and a controversial person to the top position. Kashmiri ministers also say that the Prime Minister kept them in dark. The appointment clearly smacks of favoritism. Not only were the proper procedures ignored in his appointment but also his qualification and experience are not upto the mark. The post has been filled without any advertisement depriving dozens of eligible people to apply for the post. “It simply means that state usurped the rights of the qualified and experienced people,” commented one of the officers. In addition, appointment of Mr. Attiq as CEO was made inspite of wide ranging allegations of corruption, misuse of authority and grave misconduct against him. The incumbent CEO-who is master in Pakistan studies- was appointed as a data entry operator in Agriculture Department in late 90’s on temporary basis. His appointment as data entry operator was also made out of favouritism because he had no knowledge about computer. He left the job after a year or so and joined National Rural Rural supports Programme as an intern social mobiliser. He was appointed as social mobiliser in 2004. He served in Khoshab and Attock until earthquake struck parts of Pakistan and Kashmir in 2005. The October 8, 2005 devastating Earthquake, which left more than 73000 people dead and 3.5 million homeless, proved to be blessing in disguise for Mr. Attiq. NRSP posted him in Muzaffarabad as district programme officer (DPO) soon after the earthquake - where he served for almost three years- before being elevated as regional programme officer in late 2008. He has been in the centre of controversy soon after he assumed the charge of DPO Muzaffarabad. There are wide ranging allegations of corruption, misuse of authority and misconduct against him. He is also accused of using dirty tactics to obtain projects from donors. The controversy was first generated in early 2006 over the distribution of relief goods. NRSP’s former officers admit that significant part of relief goods did not reach real victims rather these goods were distributed among state officials. Mr. Attiq Known for his sycophancy seemed least bothered about earthquake survivors and remained busy in serving bureaucracy of AJK extremely well. Mr. Attiq came under severe attack when many children were recruited as Community Health Workers in early 2006 in clear violation of local and international laws. Pakistan’s so called non-profitable organization -National Rural Supports Programme (NRSP) - recruited more than 2000 community health workers in a six-month project from March to August 2006. The UNICEF funded so called project was aimed at “promoting healthy and hygienic behaviors and provide essential health services”. Many Community Health Workers were under age girls below 15 years of age. Some of them were as young as 12 to 13 years old. The recruitments of children as CHWs were made in contravention with local and international labour laws that strictly bars the employment of children below 15 years of age. Local laws also bar the employment of girls below 18 years as community health workers. But CWHs say that there were many CHWs below 18 years age. It did not end here. These CHWs were brutally exploited by UN-agency and its partner organization. NRSP employed CHWs for six months contract for a stipend of 1000 Pakistani rupees (nearly 16 dollar) per month- which mean half a dollar a day. But CWHs complained that they received stipend for only three months despite six months contract. They asked for the remaining three months stipend but NRSP officers plainly refused to pay them. However, UNICEF’s other partners were paying three to four thousand rupees per month to each CHW. UNICEF claimed on its information sheet that it paid 100 dollar to each CHW in quake- hit areas. One of the former officers of NRSP told that it had received 4000 to 5000 Pakistani rupees per month for each Community Health Worker. He said that NRSP siphoned off money meant for victims. He claimed that the organization siphoned off about 50 million rupees in a six-month project under the head of salary only. “If they can siphon off nearly 50 million rupees under only one head of salary in one project then one can easily imagine how much money they are minting under other heads of different projects,” he said. This is reflective of the fact that donors money did not reach earthquake victims rather it went into account of NRSP or their officers. The controversy deepened after Mr. Attiq was accused of facilitating higher hierarchy of NRSP to move earthquake victims’ money to fund different projects in various cities of Pakistan. It did not end here. NRSP did not deter to cheat donors and earthquake victims. Souces say that it (NRSP) secretly used a significant amount of earthquake victims’ money to purchase 100 kanal land in Sehala near Rawalpindi. Sources say that NRSP also used 300 million rupees to build offices and residences in Sehala. This money also came from funding for earthquake victims. NRSP received billions of rupees in the name of earthquake victims but they see little on the ground. Earthquake affected areas of Kashmir has literally become the gold mine for National Rural Supports Programme. NRSP offices in Muzaffarabad and Bagh were plagued with wide spread cases of sexual harassment, blackmailing and exploitation of female staff. The cases of sexual harassment and exploitation began surfacing in Muzaffarabad office in early days of the earthquake. But alleged perpetrators went scot-free as some top bureaucrats of AJK government are believed to be behind them. Attiq’s appointment as CEO was not less than a bombshell for every sane Kashmiri. “It is unfortunate that “plunders, looters and exploiters” are honored and given top slots,” commented state official. “It is a big joke with the people of the state on the part of Prime minister,” said an official. “Does it mean that every illegal act has become kosher in the state and people involved in wrongdoings are eligible for the top slot”, said one officer. It is widely seen as an example of gross nepotism on the part of Yaqoob Khan’s regime. Prime minister has literally murdered justice. But irony of the fact is that the past bosses of incumbent CEO-who are much more qualified and experienced ?will have to work under him. “It is like head of the departments work under their chowkidar (guards),” an officer said sarcastically. The appointment of Attiq ur-Rehman as CEO was made after verbal approval from Prime Minister during his meeting with Shoib-Sultan in early this month. AJK president Raja Zulqurnain also supported the controversial person for the top post as he belongs to his area. Shortly after becoming CEO Mr.Attiq took away all vehicles of AJKRSP without any approval from board of directors. “It is a dacoity in a broad daylight”, said an officer. He says NRSP is now eying on 180 million-endowment fund of AJKRSP. “Politically naﶥ Prime Minister has been befooled”, commented one officer. “It is the beginning of political death of not only Prime Minister himself but the faction of Muslim Conference he belongs to”, said another officer. “We are completely disappointed with our leaders”, he said. “Our young talented boys are leaving the state because they don’t see their future here in presence of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats,” he added. Our leaders have no standing; they are devoid of all values; they treat the state as their real estate and people as their subjects”, he added. “It has become completely an ungoverned sate and all institutions in the state have become bankrupt”, he added. Political analysts are also depressed over the situation. “There is no government in the state; There is no law in the state”, political analysts said. “We even did not learn a lesson from 2005 devastating earthquake of 2005”, analysts say. “Yaqoob Khan’s rule is the worst extension of his predecessor Sardar Attiq Ahmad Khan’s mismanaged government,” said a minister privately. “Days are gone when upright, honest, qualified, experienced and talented people were preferred but now AJK has become a land where looters, plunderers are honored,” said an official. There is also serious reaction over the appointment of sardar siddique Khan-a special assistant (advisor) to Prime Minister-as vice chairman of AJKRSP. Sardar Siddique Khan is clearly guilty of having conflict of interests and being involved in financial irregularities. On the fact of it, Mr. siddique Khan is project coordinator for two companies- Orken and AKNCUA- but there is a strong evidence to suggest that he owns shares in Orken. OrKen has been formed by some incumbent and former bureaucrats whereas AKNCUA is said be a Turkish Company. A joint venture of these two companies carried out the project of construction of 40 prefabricated houses for government employees in Muzaffarabad. They were awarded this project in 2007 when Sardar Attiq Ahmad Khan was in power. But the project was marred by massive corruption allegations. Yaqoob Khan’s administration has carried out investigation into allegations of corruption and discovered massive financial fraud. Sardar Siddique Khan-a special assistant of prime minister- has been found knee deep involved in the prefabricated housing scam as he managed to get 75 million rupees as mobilisation cost without any bank gurantee. The cost of the project was also increased by three hundred times. The original cost of the project was 141.741 million rupees and its revised cost was finalized at 399.982 million rupees after concurrence from the Attiq government. The low quality work also indicates that a major proportion of money went into pockets of a few individuals. Sources said that there was a fraud of nearly 200 million rupees and 130 million rupees have been recovered from the companies. But government seems hesitant to reveal the details because of alleged involvement of special assistant to prime minister and some other bigwigs. Mr. Khan also faces charges of issuing a bogus cheque. He issued a cheque worth rupees 700,000 in his capacity as Project Coordinator for these two companies (Orken and AKNCUA) to one of the suppliers in June this year but his cheque bounced. Siddique Khan also serves as an honorary chairman of a controversial local NGO-Children First. He is known to have a colourful temperament. He was recently shown doing dance with two unknown persons before a selected gathering at an unknown place. The government is under pressure to remove him from the post of special assistant. Raja Waseem- ao social activist- is not off the mark when he says that ‘already faltering justice system has broken down in the state after the earthquake and it has become a state virtually with no law’. But the lawbreakers are none other than the people in authority. Soon after he took power in January this year, Mr Yaqoob Khan promised more than once that he would administer justice, provide good governance, uphold merit, and rid the state from nepotism, favourritism, menace of deep-rooted corruption and Bardarism. When the time came for the redemption of his promises, Mr. Khan evidently forgot all about them. Corruption practices, nepotism, favoritism, blackmailing, mismanagement, injustices, misuse of authority, violation of merit, discrimination govern Azad Kashmir. An outraged University graduate said: “the free Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) is free to misuse authority, free to violate merit, free to misuse public money and free to do injustices to the people of the state”.
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