PML-N stresses constitutional requirement of timely Elections in Azad Kashmir
Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir, while addressing a press conference, said that under the Constitution and election rules of Azad Kashmir, holding free and fair elections on the scheduled time is the only solution to the current crisis. He stated that the party rejects any delay in the elections and that PML-N can not support any unconstitutional move.
He said that elections in Azad Kashmir must be held at their scheduled time under all circumstances. According to the Constitution, August 3 is the last day of the current assembly, and the new assembly is to take oath on August 4. Any attempt to postpone the elections would be unconstitutional.
He added that the current constitutional system is the result of the sacrifices of their forefathers, and they will not allow this region to become unconstitutional. The current political situation in Azad Kashmir demands that the people once again be given the right to decide through elections. He urged the Pakistan Peoples Party to participate in the democratic process instead of avoiding elections. He further said that PML-N will not allow any such conspiracy to succeed.
Former prime minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan stated that subsidies on flour and electricity were provided by the Government of Pakistan and will continue. He said that elections can not be delayed even by a single day, and doing so would be a violation of the Constitution. He thanked the Government of Pakistan for providing resources for cheap flour and electricity in difficult circumstances.
At the end of the press conference, prayers were offered for the elevation of the ranks of security forces and civilian martyrs, and for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The event was attended by several leaders including former prime minister Azad Kashmir Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Senior Vice President Raja Mushtaq Ahmad Minhas, Secretary General Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Dr. Muhammad Najib Naqi Khan, Barrister Syed Iftikhar Gilani, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Chaudhry Abdul Rahman Arain, Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed, Colonel Waqar Ahmed Noor, Raja Muhammad Siddiq, Hafiz Ahmed Raza Qadri, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, Chaudhry Muhammad Razaq, Raja Azhar Iqbal, Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry, Chaudhry Masood Khalid, Raja Shuaib Abid, Zulfiqar Ali Malik, Raja Muhammad Riasat, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Tahir, Sardar Usama Zahid, Sardar Tariq, Raja Hamza Sher Afghaan, Raja Muhammad Yaseen Khan, Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz, Syed Murtaza Gilani, Sardar Farhan Azam, Raja Saqib Majeed, and others.
Before the press conference, a consultative meeting of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir office-bearers was held under the chairmanship of Shah Ghulam Qadir. During the meeting, participants stressed that elections should be held on time and alleged that the PPP is trying to escape the electoral process, while PML-N will not support any unconstitutional action.
In response to a question during the press conference, Shah Ghulam Qadir clarified that his earlier remarks regarding the ban on the Awami Action Committee were being taken out of context. He stated that the AJK government did not consult them before imposing the ban, but after being informed of the facts, they supported the decision and they still fully support it today.
