‘It’s time to deliver like Punjab’: Nawaz underscores need for merit-based AJK cabinet

MURREE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif Saturday said that political differences should not go so far and wide as to turn into enmity, adding that he had always treated political opponents well.

“We did not expect to be given an opportunity to complain by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP),” Nawaz said, stressing that political rivalry should remain within limits. He added that the political environment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir had traditionally remained positive.

Congratulating those who won the Azad Kashmir elections, Nawaz said the PML-N had already secured a majority in the first two phases of the elections. He also praised those who could not win.

READ ALSO: AJK elections: PML-N routs PPP in phase II

Nawaz said the party would face public disappointment if it failed to deliver in Azad Kashmir. He noted that the PPP had previously governed the region and said the welfare of the people of Azad Kashmir was the PML-N’s top priority.

He said the country’s situation was in a poor state when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took charge. Development in Punjab was initiated under Shehbaz Sharif and later carried forward by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he added.

He regretted the continued fall in the value of the dollar. He said the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz was trying to free Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“The people of Azad Kashmir are looking towards Punjab’s development,” Nawaz said.

He accused his opponents of merely raising slogans without taking practical steps for development, saying the country was moving forward rather than backward and that its problems would soon be overcome.

Nawaz called for laptops and scholarships for students in Azad Kashmir and urged Shehbaz Sharif to provide maximum funds to the region. He also said a Kisan Card should be introduced in Azad Kashmir.

He praised Ameer Muqam and Rana Sanaullah for working tirelessly during the election campaign, saying Ameer Muqam had campaigned as if it were his own election.

Nawaz Sharif said it was time to deliver for AJK in the same way as Punjab. He said the party had no room to fail to meet the expectations of the AJK people after winning a majority in the elections.

“I feel sorry for my colleagues who lost in AJK. There is also a need to identify the elements that caused their defeats. We will not lose hope,” he said.

Nawaz said governments led by different parties in the past had failed to meet public expectations.

“What we [PML-N] have done in Punjab should now be done in AJK. We have emerged in the first two phases, and if we do not deliver now, the people of AJK will be justified in their displeasure,” he said.

“Just as Punjab was transformed, we will transform Azad Kashmir as well,” he said.

Nawaz stressed that the Azad Kashmir cabinet should be formed on merit and directed the party to implement its manifesto in full. He also called for development projects to be launched across Azad Kashmir on a large scale.

Nawaz said AJK should match Punjab in development and urged Prime Minister Shehbaz to provide a helicopter to the AJK government so that it could remain in contact with the people and address their problems.

Nawaz Sharif said during the meeting that Shah Ghulam Qadir was a good person who had worked hard and that Allah had blessed him with success.

Nawaz also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz to relaunch China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in AJK.

Earlier, a key meeting of the PML-N’s central leadership, chaired by Nawaz Sharif, discussed the formation of the government in Azad Kashmir.

The meeting at Government House in Murree was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and other senior federal ministers.

Also in attendance were National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, SAPM Rana Sanaullah, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Engineer Ameer Muqam, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar, Dr. Tariq Fazl Chaudhry, Senator Anusha Rehman and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.

PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan and newly elected members of the AJK Legislative Assembly also participated in the meeting.

According to sources, the meeting also discussed potential candidates for the next prime minister of Azad Kashmir.

According to sources, Shah Ghulam Qadir is considered the strongest contender, while Tariq Farooq, retired Colonel Waqar and Raja Farooq Haider are also in the race.

The Azad Kashmir parliamentary party has reportedly authorised Nawaz Sharif to make the final decision regarding the prime minister.

Earlier, a list of candidates for the reserved seats was sent to Nawaz Sharif. The proposed women’s seats include Maria Iqbal Tarana, Nasira Khan, Maryam Kashmiri, Nisara Abbasi and Sehrish Qamar.

Raja Shadab Sikandar is likely to be nominated for the technocrat seat, Pir Mazhar Saeed for the Ulema and Mashaikh seat, and Raja Mohammad Javed for the overseas reserved seat.

Sources said the final approval of the candidates would be given by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.

The meeting reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its future strategy, public service in Azad Kashmir and further advancing the region’s development.