MUZAFFARABAD: PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday once again claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted his party’s government in the territory to convert it into a province which she will not allow to happen with the help of Kashmiris.

“…Let me tell you I have information and I have come here to warn you that the reason because Imran Khan wants his government and his man [at the helm] in [Azad] Kashmir is to convert it into a province,” she said at a big public meeting in Hajira subdivision of Poonch district from where deputy speaker Sardar Aamer Altaf is contesting as PML-N nominee.

In a reference to herself, she added: “And your daughter, the daughter of Kashmir, declares in Hajira that bacha bacha kat marega Kashmir suba nahi banega (Every child will fight till death and Kashmir will not become a province).”

Ms Nawaz claimed that the implementation of the already hatched conspiracy to this effect was around the corner.

Apart from Hajira, the PML-N leader addressed another public meeting in Rawalakot from where Sardar Tahir Anwar of her party is in the fray. At both places she made little mention of the myriad issues faced by the AJK territory, particularly those solutions of which hinged on the central government. Rather, the focus was as usual on denunciation of PM Khan and eulogy of Nawaz Sharif. “You have to stop them [PTI] away from Kohala. Otherwise, there will be no use of crying afterwards.”

She claimed that whatever steps Mr Khan might take, such as stealing the AJK elections, running off with ballot boxes, whisking away candidates of Nawaz Sharif or even sitting inside the ballot boxes, every nook and cranny of Kashmir had given its verdict in favour of the PML-N. She said Imran Khan would boast about his 22 years of struggle which had ended up in his being a proven stooge of the establishment.

“You added to your crimes the sell-out of Kashmir. Infamy and disgrace in return for the 22 years of struggle is an all out unproductive undertaking,” she said, adding, people would remember Mr Khan as a “puppet PM dancing to the tunes of others”.

“Imran Khan cannot even share with the nation how and where his name and face are being used because his secrets are known to them and theirs are known to him. This exposes the conspiracy of both,” she said, in a clear reference to the establishment.

She said Mr Khan had ruined his struggle for ‘kursi’ (power) but she wanted to tell him that leaders would not crave for power but to rule the hearts of the people.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2021