MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD) Khawaja Farooq Ahmed on Wednesday said his government was mulling over “solid and serious” steps to resolve the long standing issues of Mirpur.

He said a sizeable amount will be set aside from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special development package for the uplift of the lakeside city and its suburbs.

Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, who is also PTI’s central joint secretary, made this statement at three corner meetings in Mirpur, which were held in connection with the campaign of Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, PTI’s candidate in LA-3, Mirpur-III for the upcoming by-election.

Mr Sultan is son of AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry who had vacated this seat after his elevation as AJK’s constitutional head last month.

Mr Ahmed said he was quite sure that “the way [AJK] people had reposed their trust in PTI in the general elections would be replicated on October 10” when by polls in two constituencies are scheduled to be held.

He said the previous PML-N government had badly ignored every issueof Mirpur.

“The previous government paid lip service not only to the people of Mirpur but almost all areas of Azad Kashmir which was why it was voted down by the masses,” the PTI leader said.

He noted that most of the Mirpur residents were dual British nationals and their contribution to the progress of both Britain and Pakistan was meritorious by all means.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was also all praise for the diaspora community and wanted all issues confronting them back home addressed on a priority basis, he said.

Mr Ahmed claimed that the Rs500 billion mega development package to be shortly unveiled by PM Khan for AJK would have a sizable share for Mirpur division.

He urged people to shrug offpropaganda by the opposition and send the PTI candidate to the assembly to ensure their representation in the government.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2021