ATHMUQAM, Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Wednesday said the government would ensure free, fair and transparent general elections and no one should have any doubts about it.

“The process would further strengthen democracy in the country. It will be transparent and open for all to prove their prowess and popularity among the public,” the prime minister told a large public gathering at Athmuqam, some 84 kilometres from Muzaffarabad.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Muzaffarabad-Athmuqam Highway and launching the mobile service of Special Communication Organisation (SCO) in the area.

The event was attended by President AJK Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, Prime Minister AJK Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Wattoo, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Speaker AJK Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Yaseen.

The prime minister said he was pleased to address the gathering which also included a large number of Kashmiri women and people from remote places.

Prime Minister Ashraf said the mobile service was a step forward in providing modern communication linkages to the people living in remote areas and a fulfillment of yet another pledge made to the public.

He announced the construction of another road in Taobut, a village in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

He said it was a matter of pleasure for him that he had risen from the ranks of an ordinary worker and would remain a worker.

I am proud to belong to the middle class and can vouch that the poor of the country are brave, upright and committed to working selflessly for the progress of Pakistan, he added.

He said the leadership of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, like him, had also elevated from the rank of a worker. He said it was clear proof that the party kept its committed workers in high esteem.

Prime Minister Ashraf said the PPP, with the help of its allies would make all efforts to serve the people and continue to pursue principled politics.

He said while the government was committed to meeting the energy needs of the country, there was no bar on any province to generate electricity to meet their requirements.

The premier reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Pakistani-administered, until the resolution of the dispute.