Gandapur says…: Bhutto made Kashmir bilateral issue, but Imran internationalised it

MUZAFFARABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur has said the PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had marginalised Kashmir issue as a dispute between the two countries, Pakistan and India, through the Simla agreement, while Prime Minister Imran Khan again made it an international issue.

Addressing an election rally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at Patika, some 50 kilometres of here, he said the resolution of Kashmir issue had become mandatory for the international community now in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

Gandapur said Kashmiri people should vote for the PTI to strengthen Imran Khan, who was their ambassador and taking up their issue at all international forums bravely. The minister said Imran Khan had made it clear that the decision of the people should be honoured through right to self-determination and Pakistan would go to every extent for granting them right to self-determination to decide their future.

The minister alleged that poor decision of the former rulers made Pakistanis slaves of the international powers. He said our sacrifices were not recognised despite giving life for curbing terrorism. He said Imran Khan made them realised that Pakistan was a peaceful and honourable nation, and it could not be used for the interests of others.

The minister said his government would not spare the corrupt elements, who had sucked the blood of Pakistani and Kashmiri people, and would carry out accountability in AJK as well and all resources would be used for wellbeing of the people.

Criticising the PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, he said she was claiming herself to be a Kashmiri in public rallies, but she had forgotten that the Sharif family had invited Indian Prime Minister Modi in their wedding ceremony at the time when India was subjecting Kashmiris to atrocities.

The minister said the PPP failed the governance in the country as well as the Sindh province. He alleged that the PPP misappropriated Rs45 billion, earmarked for AJK during its government in Centre, and did nothing for development of Azad Kashmir.