AJK constitutional reforms: Panel to finalise draft amendments

Constituted under the instructions of PM Nawaz, the body will be headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz

MUZAFFARABAD: A high-level committee has been constituted to finalise the draft of constitutional reforms in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), official sources said on Friday.

Constituted under the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the body will be headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and comprised of Minister for Kashmir and G-B Affairs Barjis Tahir, Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and AJK Law Minister Raja Nisar.

The state government has also constituted a panel of additional chief secretary, secretary law and advocate general to prepare a draft of reforms in Interim Constitutional Act 1974 which would be presented to the committee constituted by PM Nawaz, the source added.

The committee headed by Aziz will finalise the draft before sending it to PM Nawaz for approval after which a joint sitting of Kashmir Council and AJK legislative Assembly will approve those amendments.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2017.