Srinagar, Oct 21: Jammu and Kashmir government tonight appointed the wife of state Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad as the head of the state commission for women and made nine MLAs chiefs of different corporations and commissions giving them ministerial status. Azad's wife Shamima Dev was made the chief of the state commission for women without ministerial rank.

Of the nine MLAs who have been appointed as heads of different corporations, five are from Congress, which is the biggest constituent of ruling coalition, three from PDP and one from Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party. Two Congress MLAs and one Pdp legislator have been given Cabinet status. Three from Congress, two from PDP and one from Panthers Party have been given MoS rank.

Shabir Ahmad Khan, an advocate, has been appointed as vice chairman of the advisory board of the Pahari speaking people, an official announcement said. The appointments of the MLAs as chiefs of corporations with ministerial status set at rest speculations about expansion of the council of ministers headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Bureau Report