The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee has strongly reacted to the poor performance of the Electricity Department, unannounced and prolonged load shedding, power theft and alleged irregularities in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and demanded immediate reforms and a transparent inquiry.
Addressing an important press conference held at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur, core members of the committee, Saad Ansari Advocate and Raja Danish Advocate, along with other officials, said that citizens are facing serious difficulties due to the incompetence and poor planning of the Electricity Department. On this occasion, they also presented documentary evidence related to various allegations before the media.
The speakers demanded that the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary and Secretary Electricity conduct a transparent and impartial inquiry within 10 days and take action against those responsible.
He said that the continuous power outage in an important city like Mirpur is severely affecting the normal life, business activities have come to a standstill, while the education of students is also being affected and the citizens are suffering from mental anguish.
The press conference also expressed serious concern over the increasing trend of electricity theft. According to the speakers, large industrial enterprises, franchises, private educational institutions, banks and hospitals are involved in it, while this process under the patronage of influential elements is injustice to honest consumers and the silence of the department is raising many questions.
Pointing out the alleged corruption and lack of transparency in the procurement of infrastructure, he said that irregularities in the procurement of equipment and misuse of funds have further weakened the system. He said that Azad Kashmir is self-sufficient in electricity generation, especially in the Mangla Dam-affected area of Mirpur. Load shedding is not acceptable under any circumstances.
The committee demanded that load shedding in Mirpur be completely eliminated, that an indiscriminate operation be carried out against power theft, that transparency be ensured in infrastructure procurement, that reforms be implemented in the electricity department and that an effective system be established for the immediate redressal of public grievances.
He warned that if the situation did not improve and action was not taken against the involved elements, the Joint Public Action Committee would launch a full-scale protest movement along with the public, for which the responsibility would fall on the government and the relevant institutions.
On the other hand, the committee also rejected the decision of the Azad Kashmir government to distribute the funds and assets of the Mirpur Education Board, calling it against the October 4 agreement. The speakers said that the government itself was to bear the expenses of establishing new education boards, however, the current notification is not acceptable in any way, so it should be withdrawn immediately.
He added that such measures are fueling regional division, which was ended with the sacrifices of the Awami Tehreek and its martyrs. The committee warned that if the notification was not withdrawn, a protest call would be given throughout Azad Kashmir.
A large number of other members including Central Traders Union President Ghulam Jilani, Mohsin Khalil, Mirza Sajid Advocate, Sheikh Rasheed, Kamal Khal, Nabeel Qureshi, Naveed Qureshi, Tariq Kashmiri, Chaudhry Asim and others were present at the press conference.
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