Showing zero tolerance towards those challenging the writ of the state, the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has initiated departmental action against hundreds of its employees who are allegedly members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and who allegedly participated in a sit-in in Rawalakot, it was reported on Thursday.
Sources told the 24News TV channel that a record of such serving and retired government employees had been compiled in several districts.
They informed that charges against some employees that they monetarily assisted the JAAC were also being investigated.
In Poonch division, eight senior employees of Elementary and Secondary Education and two nightwatchmen have been suspended, and an inquiry has been launched against them.
Similarly, those affiliated with the JAAC have been identified in the report submitted by Sudhnoti deputy commissioner.
Waqas Gulzar, a naib qasid at Government Boys Inter College Malot, has been suspended, and an inquiry has been launched against him under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules, 1977.
Nazim Taleem Colleges, Muzaffarabad Division Raja Muhammad Fayyaz Khan has been appointed an inquiry officer and he has been directed to submit report within 15 days.
Khawaja Arshad, a meter reader in Hajira Operation Division, has also been suspended on charges of participating in the sit-in staged by the banned organization.
The government officials have said that the rule of law will be ensured so that peace could be restored in AJK.
They have further said that more information is being collected from different districts and action against more government employees is on the cards in light of inquiry reports.
They have informed that action has also been recommended against retired government officials, and the government is mulling withholding their pensions.
Meanwhile, the JAAC has suffered another setback as a member of its core committee, Faisal Jameel Kashmiri, has announced parting of ways with the committee.
In a video statement, he has appealed to the youth to stay away from the committee’s movement of violence and confrontation.
He has lamented that the movement, which had started to register protest over the rising prices of flour and electricity, turned violent. “Its time that issues were resolved through negotiations and peace in AJK is not disturbed.”
Kashmiri has made it clear that he has nothing to do with anti-state and anti-state institutions speeches being made by the JAAC leaders. “The speeches being delivered by these leaders by no means represent the feelings of the people of AJK,” he has said, adding he can never agree with the anti-state narrative espoused by these leaders.
Hitherto, Bilal Sheikh, Rizwan Karamat, Iftikhar Mehmood, Anjum Zaman, and Amjad Ali Khan Advocate have already distanced themselves from the committee.
