MUZAFFARABAD, May 2: Leader of the opposition in AJK Legislative Assembly, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, on Thursday alleged that the National Kashmir Committee Chairman Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan has shattered the expectations of the Kashmiris for progress towards early settlement of the dispute.
Addressing a big gathering in Hajira in Poonch district, he criticized last month’s meeting of Sardar Qayyum with All Parties’ Hurriyet Conference leaders in Dubai and termed it a “conspiracy to cause an irreparable loss to the freedom struggle.”
“Like others, we had also developed a hope that Sardar Sahib will work for Kashmir cause after his appointment by the federal government as NKC chairman. But he is doing otherwise and thus impairing the heroic struggle of the valiant Kashmiris,” said Mr Mahmood, who also heads the AJK chapter of People’s Party.
The Kashmir issue, alleged the PPAJK chief, had virtually been buried after his rule and the present set up was implementing one-point agenda of victimization of its opponents.
“The prime minister (Sardar Sikandar Hayat) seems confused on what and how to deliver and so are his ministers,” Mr Mahmood said and added that in such a situation the people of Azad Kashmir were justified to aspire for the change of government.
He said he would protect the rights of the people of Azad Kashmir which according to him were being usurped by the Muslim Conference government. “My mission is to seek freedom of Kashmir and establish an exploitation free society,” he said.
Mr Mahmood asked the government to refrain from “practising vengeance by resorting to politically motivated transfers and downsizing of employees and violation of merit to accommodate and adjust its favourites.”
“These steps are creating unrest in Azad Kashmir and we cannot tolerate them anymore,” he said.
He claimed that serious elements in the MC were also annoyed with the policies of their government and were considering joining the PPAJK.
AJKLA member Sardar Ghulam Sadiq, AJK Council member Sardar Sawar Khan and former ministers Sardar Ashraf and Sardar Asghar Afandi also spoke.