“AJK President calls on former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Lahore”
Lahore: Stressing the need for a meaningful and constructive dialogue to resolve Kashmir dispute the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and president Pakistan Muslim League (N) Mian Muhammad. Nawaz Sharif has said that the lingering issue must be resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Sharif made these remarks while talking to AJK president Sardar Masood Ahmed Khan who called on him at his residence in Jati Umra, Lahore on Friday. During the meeting matters related to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, evolving international scenario and issues of national importance and ongoing development and economic initiatives and projects in AJK were discussed.
Speaking on the occasion the PML-N chief said that Pakistan and India must initiate a diplomatic and political process to resolve the issue of Kashmir saying that the United Nations must play its legal and moral responsibilities to settle this long outstanding issue. Voicing concern over the prevailing political and human rights situation in the region he said that human right violations in IOK must come to an end.
President Masood Khan briefed the former Prime Minister about the human rights violations, killing of innocent civilians, brutalities and crimes against humanity in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. He also said that scores of civilians and soldiers in Azad Kashmir along the LOC were being killed by Indian fire. He added that it was the resolve of the Kashmiris on both sides of the LOC to continue to strive for the realization of their right to self-determination and align their destiny with Pakistan.
President AJK thanked the former Prime Minister for his full support to Azad Kashmir’s economic development and informed him of various development projects that were being planned and implemented with speed in AJK. Special attention, he said, was being given to building a modern road network, generating electricity, tourism industry, agriculture, education and health.
President AJK said that with the constructive efforts of the Government of Pakistan, AJK has been formally made a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. This, he said, will bring in huge investment opportunities for local and international investors. Highlighting the projects under the auspices of CPEC, the President said that a Special Economic Zone was being planned according to international industrial standards in Mirpur which will be connected to the Western CPEC Route via the Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway. Additionally two hydropower projects namely, Karot and Kohala are also be built under the CPEC project. He thanked the former Prime Minister for making AJK a formal part of CPEC.
The duo said that Pakistan’s challenges have increased because of the recent developments, especially those relating to Pak-US relations. These challenges needed to be met, they said, with ingenuity and sagacity while maintaining Pakistan’s dignity at all costs.
