Political opposition should not be turned into enmity, says Nawaz Sharif

Stressing the need for political tolerance, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said political opposition should not be turned into enmity.

Nawaz stated this while chairing a meeting of the party’s newly elected parliamentary group from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where consultations were held on government formation, key parliamentary positions and the region’s future political and administrative priorities.

Addressing the meeting in Murree, the PML-N supremo said the party had always treated its political opponents with respect and urged rival parties to reflect on the reasons behind their defeat.

He congratulated the newly elected lawmakers on their electoral victory and urged them to live up to the public mandate and accelerate the development process in AJK.

Nawaz said the PML-N lawmakers had put up a strong contest against their opponents during the election campaign, but the real responsibility now was to honour the trust placed in them by voters.

“There is no room for betraying the public’s trust,” he said.

Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in AJK, Nawaz called for maximum allocation of development funds for the region. He said the people of AJK should be provided facilities such as the Kisan Card and dignified employment opportunities.

He also urged party workers and lawmakers not to lose heart over defeats in individual constituencies.

The PML-N leader criticised what he described as hollow slogans of the past, saying the condition of Pakistan during the previous government’s tenure had been unprecedented.

“Just as Punjab has changed, AJK must also be transformed,” Nawaz said, adding that Pakistan was moving forward rather than backward.

He said even children in AJK aspired to have access to laptops, highlighting the need to provide modern educational and technological opportunities to the region’s youth.

Nawaz credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with laying the foundation for development in Punjab and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz with carrying the process forward.

He also called for improved logistical support for AJK, saying the mountainous region required a helicopter. He urged PM Shehbaz to provide a helicopter to the AJK government to facilitate administration and emergency response.

Nawaz said the party would soon address the region’s longstanding problems and help AJK overcome its challenges.

He maintained that the previous AJK government had failed to meet public expectations and urged the newly elected lawmakers to prove the confidence placed in them through tangible performance.

“The trust given by the people must be demonstrated through practical performance,” he said, calling on the lawmakers to work diligently to meet the expectations of the people of AJK.