Mehbooba Mufti's brother made head of CMO's grievance cell

SRINAGAR: Mufti Tassaduq Hussain, brother of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, was today appointed as coordinator of the chief minister's grievance cell on the "honorary basis".

An official spokesman said the appointment of the 45- year-old cinematographer-turned-politician had been made to ensure "good governance and responsive administration".

According to an order issued by the General Administration Department of the government, Tassaduq shall not draw any salary or perks and his job would purely be on honorary basis, the spokesman said.

"In a step towards ensuring good governance and responsive administration, the government appointed Mufti Tassaduq Hussain as the Coordinator of Chief Minister s Grievance Cell," the spokesman said.

"As per the order, Mufti Tassaduq, besides heading the grievance cell would also oversee the outcome and resolution of specific grievances and complaints registered with the Cell," he said.

Tassaduq, who joined the ruling PDP a few months back, was fielded as its candidate for the bypoll to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat vacated by his sister Mehbooba.

The bypoll was scheduled to be held on April 12 but it was postponed to May 25 after widespread violence and lowest- ever turnout was witnessed during bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on April 9.

However, subsequently the Election Commission cancelled the bypoll as security situation deteriorated further.

Tassaduq was the first to appeal to the Election Commission to postpone the bypoll in view of the large scale violence during the Srinagar bypoll that left nine people dead and several others injured.