Altaf Hamid Rao,
Muzaffarabad/MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, while appreciating the peaceful conduct of LG polls in Muzaffarabad Division has termed it as the victory of democracy.
Talking to media here on Monday the PM said, “I appreciate office bearers and workers of all the political parties who have played an important role in advancing politics and democracy in the state”.Lauding political leadership for demonstrating maturity, the PM said that despite less security the poll process remained peaceful.
“On the one hand it shows the high level of political consciousness amongst the people and political leadership while on the other it highlights the quality administration, capacity and capability of the security apparatus of the state of Azad Kashmir”, he said. While congratulating the PTI candidates who won the elections, the PM said,”I congratulate the lion-hearted workers of Tehreek-e-Insaaf ran a successful campaign during the local body elections and raised the awareness of the party”.
Referring to the PTI’s victory in the polls, he said, “It has been proved now that the PTI has become stronger due to its performance in Muzaffarabad”. He expressed the hope that the PTI would also show it’s performance in the second and third phase of elections being held in Poonch and Mirpur divisions as well. He said that PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir, former Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar, People’s Party Member Legislative Assembly Mian Abdul Waheed, Syed Bazal Ali Naqvi and Sardar Javed Ayub faced defeat in their respective constituencies. Key opposition leader’s defeat in the elections, he said, was a sign of the PTI’s growing popularity and people’s trust in the party’s leadership.The PM said that he would live up to the expectations of the people of Azad Kashmir. He said that for 31 years, the people of Azad Kashmir were deprived of their basic rights by previous rulers. ” They also tried to blackmail me on the municipal elections, but I did not compromise on the rights of the people”, he said. The PM said that he was proud that Azad Kashmir’s civil administration and police have performed well, came up to our expectations and proved that they were second to none. “I am proud of my police and other institutions that played key role in conducting peaceful, transparent and impartial elections”, he said.”Tehreek-e-Insaaf has won a clear victory in the first phase of local elections”, he said adding that in Muzaffarabad division, PML-N and PPP had won more than six seats in the assembly, but Tehreek-e-Insaf was still victorious. He said that victory and defeat in local body elections have no meaning. “The PTI’s biggest victory is that despite facing many challenges it fulfilled the promise it had made to the people during the pre-electioneering campaign”, the PM said adding that this promise now stands fulfilled according to the vision of Imran Khan.
” PTI has ended political monopolies by empowering youth and bringing them to mainstream”, the PM said adding youth were the biggest asset of the nation. He also appreciated the efforts of the Information Department for making people aware of the importance of voting and exercising their right to vote peacefully through a wonderful campaign.Congratulating winning candidates the PM expressed the hope that they will support the government in solving the problems of their region. The Prime Minister also appreciated the efforts of the Election Commission and praised their efforts. The Prime Minister also appreciated the role of the Pakistan Army in the local elections.