MUZAFFARABAD, May 2, Former prime minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayum Khan has observed that any deterioration in the situation in Azad Kashmir will adversely affect the integrity of Pakistan.

He was speaking at the election convention of the Muslim Conference (MC) of which he is the supreme head.

“If we do not perform our responsibilities sincerely then the situation in AJK can deteriorate,” Sardar Qayum said. He claimed that every government, except for the Ziaul Haq regime, had tried to weaken the MC. “We are defending interests of Pakistan,” he maintained.

He thanked the government, Islamic courtiers and national and foreign NGOs for their relief efforts after the devastating October 8 earthquake.

He stressed the need for early implementation of projects of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority. He appealed to Erra to start work before the quake-affected people started feeling dejected.

Zafar Ullah Khan, Basharat Mughal Raja Farooq Haider Khan and Khan Imtiaz Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Sardar Qayum administered the oath to newly- elected president of the MC, Zafar Ullah Khan, and secretary-general, Basharat Mughal.—Online.