MIRPUR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif took a swipe at Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a public rally in Mirpur on Friday, telling him not to confuse Kashmir with Kashmore or Mirpur with Mirpur Khas.
Addressing supporters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the former prime minister said Kashmir held a special place in his heart and criticised successive governments for neglecting the region after his removal from office.
“Bilawal Barkhdar, don’t consider Kashmir as Kashmore, or Mirpur as Mirpur Khas,” Nawaz said, drawing applause from the crowd.
He added that Bilawal should not take the remarks personally, saying political competition should remain respectful. “There should be competition among political parties, but there should be no bitterness, violence or hatred,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif questioned what governments that came after his administration had done for Azad Kashmir. “After my government, no government did anything for Azad Kashmir. If they have, tell me what they have accomplished,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif has pledged to accelerate development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying every major development project in the region bears the party’s imprint and promising new initiatives if the party returns to power.
Nawaz Sharif said he was delighted to return to the city after several years. He praised the enthusiasm of the people and said that the PML-N will win the election from Mirpur seat.
The former prime minister said his bond with the people of Kashmir remained strong and maintained that the PML-N had consistently taken practical steps for the development of Azad Kashmir.
“Every development project in Azad Kashmir carries the stamp of the PML-N,” he said, challenging political rivals to identify any comparable achievements by other parties.
He vowed to change the destiny of Mirpur and the rest of Azad Kashmir, promising that the region would receive the same development opportunities as other parts of the country.
The former prime minister said his government would revive the motorway project linking Muzaffarabad and Mirpur and construct an expressway from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad, similar to the Murree Expressway.
He said these projects would improve connectivity and bring prosperity to the region. “If we form the government here, I will personally supervise development projects across Azad Kashmir,” he said.
The PML-N leader pledged that if his party forms the government in Azad Kashmir, it will prioritise education, healthcare and infrastructure. He promised to establish schools, colleges and universities across the region while expanding healthcare facilities.
He said cancer hospitals, cardiac centres, CT scanners and MRI machines should be made available so residents no longer have to travel to Islamabad for treatment.
Nawaz Sharif announced that if electric buses could operate in Lahore and Islamabad, the same facility would also be introduced in Azad Kashmir.
He claimed several key development projects initiated during his tenure were left incomplete, including a planned motorway connecting Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.
According to Nawaz, the motorway would have transformed the region economically had it been completed.
Referring to Punjab’s ongoing health initiatives, Nawaz said he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ensure hospitals in Azad Kashmir receive modern equipment similar to facilities in Punjab.
He added that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had brought a “special gift” for the people of the region.
Education would be a top priority, he added, pledging that every high-achieving student in Azad Kashmir would receive a laptop under the party’s proposed education initiative.
The rally was attended by senior PML-N leaders and supporters, who chanted slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif throughout his address.