MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on Friday said that the future of Pakistan and AJK hinged on democracy and those trying to subvert the system did not want to see a strong and stable Pakistan.

It’s heartening that Pakistans two major political parties – PPP and PML-N – were sticking to the Charter of Democracy (CoD) which in turn was thwarting the designs of anti-democracy elements, he maintained while talking to a group of journalists.

“Both parties are mindful of the intriguers who have always been involved in making or breaking the governments through the back door and fully understand that the authority to form or oust a government is vested in the masses,” Mr Majeed said.“Those inimical to democracy and the peoples’ right to rule the country will have to cut a sorry figure at the end of the day,” he added.

The AJK PM was of the view that people of Pakistan and AJK were politically conscious and could judge well that which elements were out to derail democracy and (thus) disturb its journey on the path of peace, progress and prosperity.

He pointed out that Pakistan faced internal and external challenges and as an elected leader of liberated part of Kashmir he firmly believed that any attempt to weaken the country would be tantamount to weakening the cause of Kashmiris.

“Only a strong and stable Pakistan guarantees early success of Kashmiris struggle and that’s why we have always advocated the same, regardless of which party is in power in Pakistan,” he said.

To a question, Mr Majeed said it was because of the CoD that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N president Nawaz Sharif were on the same page vis-à-vis supremacy of the Constitution and strengthening of democratic institutions in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014