AJK PM sacks two MQM ministers over Altaf's remarks

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on Tuesday sacked two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers over party chief Altaf Hussain's ' anti-Pakistan' statements.

"Chaudhry Abdul Majeed approved a summary to remove Minister for Transport Tahir Khokhar and Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Saleem Butt," according to sources.

"AJK Services and General Administration Department has also issued a notification regarding sacking of the two ministers," a source added. Both the MQM ministers were elected on the tickets of Kashmiri refugees set- tled in Pakistan since 1947. On Monday, the AJK government gave a 72 hours ultimatum to the two MQM ministers to disassociate themselves from Altaf or quit the cabinet. PPP AJK Secretary General and Finance Minister Chaudhry Latif Akbar conveyed the party's decision to the MQM parliamentary leader in AJK and Transport Minister Tahir Khokhar.

"We accept the decision of the AJK prime minister but will not disassociate ourselves from the MQM," the MQM parliamentary leader said in response to the PPP secretary general. "We will move the application in the AJK Assembly to get the seats on opposition benches and will continue playing our democratic role as active opposition members," he added.