MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Saturday threw a gauntlet to his opponents, saying they could not compete with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the field.

“There is a difference between politics on Facebook and politics in the field. They may compete on social media, but not in practical politics,” he said at a public gathering in Abbaspur.

He said his government was presenting its performance before the people and would face its rivals head-on in the next elections.

He said the PPP government had taken concrete steps to improve institutions across the state.

“When I took over, the state was facing serious challenges, but we accepted them and worked with a clear vision and roadmap,” he said, adding that the government was not merely making announcements but ensuring their implementation.

Urging political forces to move beyond point-scoring, he said all stakeholders must work to safeguard people’s rights.

“The PPP is a kingmaker and a symbol of the federation. We are the real stakeholders in Pakistan’s system,” he asserted.

The AJK premier claimed that his government had restored a conducive political environment in the state and revived the mission of public service.

“We are coming back with greater strength and public support,” he said, adding that the PPP believed in practical welfare measures rather than rhetoric.

Mr Rathore maintained that major development projects in AJK’s history were largely initiated during PPP governments. “If you exclude the ten-and-a-half years of PPP rule, you will hardly find any mega project,” he claimed, citing universities, medical colleges and other major initiatives as the party’s achievements.

He said that within a short span, his government had revived development activities and restored public confidence at a time when politics in the region had nearly come to a standstill. “People welcomed us across the state even when it had become difficult for politicians to step out,” he said.

Claiming a strong electoral position, he said the PPP was currently well placed in all 33 constituencies and would return to power after winning the next elections.

Expressing pride in the armed forces, he said Pakistan had earned respect globally and was playing the role of a mediator on the world stage. “God has raised our stature with honour and, God willing, the Kashmir issue will also be resolved,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026