MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 24: PPAJK Vice President Khawaja Farooq Ahmed on Wednesday withdrew his candidature for the upcoming by-election in favour of Sardar Usman Attique of Muslim Conference (MC) who has been declared as PPAJK-MC joint candidate.
Though the PPAJK leaders were expressing satisfaction over the development and predicting a landslide victory for Mr Usman, ordinary party workers were showing their resentment saying they would never vote for their 'longtime opponent.'
Initially Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed made an announcement regarding the withdrawal of Mr Ahmed's candidature in a news conference at his office on his return from Mr Ahmed's residence where he persuaded him to comply with the decision taken by the top party leadership.
On the other hand, nearly 300 local PPAJK leaders and workers on Tuesday held a meeting at the residence of Mr Ahmed and expressed the resolve that they would never surrender their right to represent their constituency by themselves.
However, the prime minister during his press conference asserted that the PPP's 'policy of conciliation' was not meant to prolong or protect its rule but to stabilise the country. “We have to take some difficult decisions for the cause,” he said.
According to him, AJK is a base camp for Kashmir freedom movement but the purpose could not properly be served in past as AJK had seen unrest with the change of four premiers.
“There was corruption of millions of rupees in the name of development coupled with the violation of merit, favourtism and regional prejudices. Moreover, Kashmir issue could not be given proper projection,” he said.
While admitting PPAJK workers' reservations over the conciliation with the MC he said: “We are entering into an alliance with MC for AJK's development and occupied Kashmir's freedom.”
Later, in the afternoon, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and MC Chief Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan arrived at the press club where they jointly addressed a press conference. Khawaja Farooq Ahmed was also present on the occasion. They said that the 'reconciliation and rapprochement' between their respective parties was aimed at promoting and strengthening parliamentary democracy in the region.
On the occasion, Khawaja Farooq Ahmed announced that he had withdrawn his candidature on the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Mr Ahmed, who was considered as the most favourite candidate from Muzaffarabad constituency, maintained that it was a bitter decision of his political career; however, he was pleased because the political insight and acumen of PPP leadership had been acknowledged and appreciated by the opponents (MC leaders).
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Attique appreciated the PPP's goodwill gesture for his party saying that it would go a long way in bolstering democracy in AJK.
However, soon after finishing their statements, both the leaders begged leave from the media to avoid the questions.
Nevertheless, when this correspondent asked Mr Majeed if he planned to introduce an NRO-type law in AJK to sweep the alleged corruption under the carpet, he did not give a clear answer. “Whosoever is involved in corruption, will be held accountable and if need be, we will also make laws,” he said.