Qazi continues to be H&UD Minister: Official spokesman

Srinagar, Oct 5 (UNI) Two days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asked a junior minister to look after the Housing and Urban Development ministry, an official spokesman today clarified that Qazi Mohammad Afzal still held the H&UD portfolio.

He said that Mr Afzal continues to hold the Cabinet portfolio of Housing and Urban Development.

The spokesman said that the manner in which a section of the media reported assigning of Housing and Urban Development Department to Aijaz Ahmad Khan recently, in addition to other charges held by him as Minister of State, has created an impression that the charge of portfolio held by Mr Afzal as Cabinet Minister, has been given to him (Mr Khan) which is not correct.

The factual position is that Mr Afzal continues to hold the Cabinet portfolio of H&UD, he added.

Most of the Departments of State Government have a Minister of State in addition to the Cabinet Minister, the spokesman said and added since there was no Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Department, this charge was entrusted to Mr Khan in addition to his other charges.

UNI