AJK elections explode PML-N popularity myth

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Khan Wattoo Friday said that the recent defeat of PML-N in the AJK elections has exploded N-League popularity myth in Punjab adding that people want to vote for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

"PML-N should have known its popularity graph from the defeats in the recently concluded by-elections in the country", he said while addressing a joint press conference along-side PPP Lahore President and Federal Minister for Environment Samina Khalid Ghurki here Friday. Manzoor Wattoo said that PML-N was fated to face defeat in the AJK elections since it took part in the Kashmir elections for the first time ever, adding that PPP has been contesting AJK elections since Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's era.

"The rigging allegations against the PPP are baseless as the PPP had government neither in AJK nor in the Punjab", Wattoo asserted. He said that PML-N leadership only parroted election rigging after MQM developed differences with the PPP government. He alleged that PML-N used administrative machinery in Punjab to rig AJK elections and get desired results.

To a question of interference from the centre, the Minister said that the maintenance of transparency in the elections by the PPP can be judged from the fact that the son of sitting AJK Prime Minister lost elections. He said that PML-N, maintaining highest democratic values, should accept the defeat in AJK elections with fortitude and prepare for the next general elections in the country.

To another query, the minister said that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AJK has directed for the deployment of Rangers as well as the Army for the AJK Lahore seat elections on July 10 so that transparency could be ensured.

Wattoo warned the Punjab police to desist from resorting to unlawful acts during the Lahore showdown, urging Punjab Police to abide by the principles of justice and equity. Felicitating PPP workers on the restoration of the constitution and grant of provincial autonomy under the PPP government, he said that PPP has devolved 17 ministries to the provinces after abolishing the concurrent list as per the constitution of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto so that people could get justice at their door-step.

"The landmark PPP decision of devolution has diverted the direction of the resources and powers from the centre to the provinces which would usher in a new era of prosperity and strengthen the federation", he claimed.

To a question, the minister said that the subjects which fall under the federal legislative list have not been devolved. he urged the other political forces to present positive image of Pakistan to the world. Addressing the press conference, Samina Khalid Ghurki saluted Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo for winning AJK elections for the PPP. She said that PPP has restored Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's constitution to its true spirit after granting provincial autonomy to the provinces.

The PPP Lahore chapter President said that PPP believes in the politics of reconciliation but PML-N committed the worst ever election rigging in the AJK elections in Punjab. She regretted the fact that Punjab government used government resources to rig elections. Samina Khalid Ghurki said that the Sharifs talk of democracy but the need to promote democratic mind-set in their decisions and actions.

Later, the PPP Lahore President held a meeting with the party workers and listened to their problems.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011