Nawaz Sharif’s visit to infuse new spirit, says AJK premier

Struggle for right to self-determination

MUZAFFARABAD: Speaking at “meet the press” programme at Central Press Club on Saturday, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider reiterated his government’s three-point agenda: promotion of Kashmir issue in its real context; provision of good governance to the people and development in AJK.

To a question the PM elaborated his government’s plan for state for the next five years and said that supporting brothers in Indian occupied Kashmir in their struggle for their right to self determination according to United Nations (UN) resolutions and highlighting human rights situation in occupied Kashmir at international level is the first priority. To stabilise the institutions by fighting corruption and eliminating political influence, establishment of rule of law and merit will remain second priority, while development in health, education, infrastructure sectors, promoting tourism and setting up hydro power projects to overcome energy crisis and make state economy self sufficient, would be his third priority. The prime minister said that a “surgical” operation would be carried out in education department to cleanse it and new reforms would be introduced. Administrative and academic cadres would be separated to enhance the performance of the department. He announced that life saving drugs would be provided to poor patients free of cost in public hospitals.

To a question he told reporters that by the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Muzaffarabad before his departure for United States to address United Nations General Assembly and having consultations on recent developments in occupied Kashmir sends a strong message for those Kashmiris engaged in freedom movement against Indian occupation.

PM AJK strongly condemned Indian atrocities and brutalities in occupied Kashmir and said that solution of Kashmir issue was essential for a durable peace in South Asia. He said that solution of Kashmir problem in the light of UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people, was the need of the hour.

He said that India was using pellet guns and other tactics to suppress freedom movement in Kashmir and Indian army had unleashed an era of cruelty and oppression against Kashmiri people. He said that India, which claims to be a secular country, was violating all human rights in occupied Kashmir.

He further said that India had been trying to suppress the just struggle of Kashmiri people through atrocities for many decades. He said that martyrdom of Burhan Wani had proved that desire for freedom was in the blood of Kashmiri people and they could not be denied their right of self-determination any longer. Raja Farooq Haider stressed upon world community to take notice of cruelties and brutalities against unarmed Kashmiri people.

Minister for Information, Tourism and Information Technology Mushtaq Minhas, Minister for Finance and Health Dr.Najeeb Naqi, MLA Dr. Bashir Mustafa, Secretary Information Syed Zahoor Ul Hassan Gillani, Director Information Raja Azhar Iqbal and President Press Club Sohail Mughal were also present on the occasion.