CHARSADDA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial president and federal minister Amir Muqam on Sunday urged political parties to avoid blame game on national issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute.

Addressing a gathering in the Uthmanzai area here, he said that all decisions regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir had been taken through mutual consultation involving the government of the region, including its prime minister and ministers.

Mr Muqam criticised the ‘irresponsible statements’ by certain political leaders and urged the Pakistan People’s Party leadership to take notice of those making such remarks.

Referring to discussions on AJK, the federal minister claimed that he had been informed, both verbally and in writing in Muzaffarabad, about proposals seeking removal of the oath clause requiring members of the AJK Legislative Assembly to pledge loyalty to Pakistan. He reiterated that Pakistan’s relationship with Kashmir was ‘unshakable’ and said his party would remain at the forefront of safeguarding national and state interests.

Mr Muqam also criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, claiming that corruption and mismanagement prevailed during its rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He called on AJK protesters to end their sit-ins and surrender what he described as confrontational politics.

The event marked the formal joining of former district nazim Fahad Azam Khan, Fayaz Azam Khan, Saleem Akbar Khan, Yousaf Akbar Khan, Shiraz Tariq, Jameel Tariq and their supporters into the PML-N.

Mr Muqam said the growing number of political and social figures joining his party reflected increasing public confidence in the leadership of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Criticising both former and current provincial governments, he said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not received the relief they were promised over the past 14 years. He claimed that shortcomings remained visible in the education, health and infrastructure sectors, while hospitals continued to face shortages of medicines and facilities.

He further said that no major motorway or expressway project had been launched in the province in recent years, adding that development schemes initiated during previous PML-N governments continued to serve as symbols of progress.

He said that the federal government had attempted to minimise the tax burden on citizens in the latest budget despite challenging economic conditions.

Reiterating his stance on Kashmir, Mr Muqam said decisions concerning the issue should be made in the larger interest of the state and the people, rather than being driven by political point-scoring. He called on all stakeholders to work together for public welfare and regional stability.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026