TATTAPANI: (Parliament Times) Describing Poonch as land of martyrs and valiant war veteran, Sardar Masood Khan President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) said people of this area had offered matchless sacrifices in the freedom movement of Kashmir.
“The liberated territory now known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir was freed by our forefathers by offering unprecedented sacrifices in 1947 and our children, women, young and old are still offering sacrifices due to Indian shelling at Line of Control, (LoC)” , he said.
The President made these remarks while addressing a public gathering during his visit here on Sunday.
The President said that the Government will priorities welfare of the public by providing all facilities, including upgrading and construction of roads, establishing water schemes, providing universal access to health and educational facilities, and modernising existing agricultural practices in the region.
He said that the AJK Government has always focused on holistic development programmes. He said that this government has taken requisite steps by doubling the development budget and equitable distribution of funds.
President AJK paid rich tribute to the people living near the Line of Control and said that they are our first line of defence who are being directly targeted by the Indian forces. He condemned the unprovoked fire by the Indian forces which target innocent civilians, their property, schools and even their livestock.
The President said that the people of LOC have been living in constant threat. He added that the government will provide health facilities to the people living in areas adjoining the LOC. He said that basic health units will be built and an effective ambulance service will be provided for the people of Tattapani and other areas adjoining the LOC. President Azad Kashmir also assured his audience that efforts will be made to upgrade Tattapani to the status of subdivision.
The President strongly condemned India’s moves towards repealing Article 35-A in order to illegally transform the demography inside Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that we will oppose this move, adding that the people and government of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir support the stance of the Hurriyat leaders and the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the revocation of Arrivle 35-A.
The gathering was also addressed by Chaudhry Yaseen Gulshan, AJK Minister for Zakat and Auqaaf and Sardar Zahid Aziz Mughal, Advisor to President Azad Kashmir. The event was attended by a large number of PML(N) workers, notables of Tattapani, and members of the print and electronic media.
