MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi on Monday regretted that at a time when Pakistan was facing multiple challenges and threats, opposition parties were “remorselessly engaged in hatching conspiracies to destabilise the country.”

“Unfortunately, the opposition parties appear to be hell bent upon damaging vital national interests by fomenting political instability in the country at a time when the situation at home as well as in our neighbourhood strictly warrants greater national unity in our ranks and file,” he said at a press talk in the city of Kotli.

“In fact, by resorting to political gimmickry the opposition parties are desperately trying in vain to sweep their corruption under the rug and thus circumvent accountability but eventually they will cut a sorry figure and Prime Minister Imran Khan will complete his term,” he added.

PM Khan is the ambassador of Kashmiris and Kashmir issue would see settlement under his leadership, he said, adding, “Take my word, the shenanigans of the misguided opposition to dislodge the democratically elected government are doomed to failure.”

Responding to a question, the AJK premier said he had no personal agenda but the one spelt out by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“This agenda includes holding across the board accountability to eradicate corruption from the state, ameliorating the lot of a common man and highlighting the urgency of the settlement of the longstanding Kashmir issue at the international level,” he said, adding a slew of development schemes and projects had already been initiated by his government and more would be initiated after the next budget.

“I am running the affairs [of AJK] earnestly as a dutiful comrade of PM Khan and rest assured there will not be any compromise on the integrity of the state,” he said, pointing out that for the first time, opposition lawmakers in AJK were being given fullshare of development funds.

“He is shielding the country against internal and external conspiracies on the one hand and addressing the system on the other hand. All willing, he will succeed in establishing a Madina-like state in Pakistan,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2022