AJK Assembly secretary seen in office only once

MUZAFFARABAD, March 30: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly's secretary Chaudhry Basharat Hussain has been away from his office since March 17, a day after his allegedly controversial recruitment by Speaker Chaudhry Anwaarul Haq, Dawn learnt here. Mr Hussain was appointed as LA secretary on the night of March 15 under the 'recommendations' of a selection committee headed by the speaker for three months 'on probationary basis.' The new secretary, who also happens to be the brother-in-law of the speaker, assumed the charge of his office on March 16 but left for his native Bhimber district the same evening. "It's for the first time that the administrative head of this institution has been away from his office for such a long period despite being in the country," remarked an official in the LA secretariat on condition of anonymity. When contacted by this correspondent two days ago, Mr Hussain had maintained that he was on a tour to Mirpur and Bhimber districts and would attend his office from Monday. However, the LA staff confirmed on Tuesday that he was yet to return, although there were indications that the government might summon the LA session on April 1 to meet a constitutional requirement.