ISLAMABAD: Reiterating his party’s commitment to rid the state of corrupt mafia the president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry said that PML-N, MC and PPP will suffer a humiliating defeat in the upcoming general election.

He expressed these views, while addressing a meeting of the party’s central governing body on Wednesday, which was attended by senior Vice President Chaudhry Zafar Anwar, Vice President Chaudhry Azhar Sadiq, General Secretary Abdul Majid Khan, Additional General Secretary Raja Mansoor Khan, Central Joint Secretary Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, Deputy General Secretary Sardar Murtaza Ali Ahmed, Deputy General Secretary Chaudhry Maqbool Ahmed, Deputy General Secretary Sikandar Baig, Deputy General Secretary Saleem Butt, Finance Secretary Zulfiqar Abbasi and Information Secretary Ershad Mahmud.

Mr Chaudhary said: “PTI soon after assuming power will hold all those accountable who have committed corruption and plundered the national kitty.” He said the PTI is committed towards bringing change to ensure better governance, promote a culture of accountability and rule of law in the state. “PTI will give masses the gift of good governance, an economically self-sufficient and prosperous state”, he said adding that in the next few weeks, the PTI-AJK would issue a white paper against the PML-N government.

Regarding the party’s public contact campaign, he said people’s overwhelming response and their enthusiasm to join the PTI was a reflection of the changing political environment in the liberated territory (AJK). “This changing political environment in the region amply demonstrates that the PML-N, MC and PPP would suffer a shocking defeat in the next elections,” he added.

Expressing satisfaction over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policy on Kashmir, members of the governing body said the prime minister played a key role in seeking China’s support, as a result of which, a discussion about the situation in India-held Kashmir was held at the UN Security Council meeting after four decades.

Says PML-N, MC, PPP will suffer a humiliating defeat in upcoming polls

Members reiterated the party’s pledge to initiate full accountability in the region to ensure good governance and supremacy of the law. They said that implementation of mega projects, including establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) in Mirpur and construction of expressway, guaranteed to the AJK under CPEC was the sole responsibility of the PML-N government. The governing body urged the AJK government to make an effort towards ensuring provision of 4G internet services in the region.

The body unanimously hailed issuance of Sehat Insaf Cards by the prime minister to citizens of AJK and said after the Rs3.5 billion package, released for victims of the Line of Control (LoC), this was another gift for people of the region. Participants of the meeting said that the PML-N should refrain from doing politics on “non-political public-welfare schemes.”

Expressing concern over the prevailing political and human rights situation in India-held Kashmir, the meeting observed that despite state oppression, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi miserably failed to subdue the voice of Kashmiris. Despite its tall claims, the Modi government has not been able to launch a political process, nor has any significant Kashmiri political party endorsed its Aug 5 “illegal” actions, participants said, adding this spoke volumes about PM Modi’s failed Kashmir policy.

They expressed grief and anger over the fact that in three months, 300 Kashmiris had been martyred and state terrorism had increased dramatically. They appealed the international community, to take notice of the dire human rights situation in the region and help create a congenial atmosphere wherein people could exercise their right of self-determination.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2020