Altaf Hamid Rao
Lahore /MIRPUR (AJK) , Parliament Times) : Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan called on Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan here at his Zaman Park residence Friday.
During the meeting, the duo discussed in detail the issues of mutual concern, particularly the prevailing political situation in the country.
Prime Minister Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan on the occasion voiced his serious concern over the fake and baseless cases being registered against the PTI leadership.
He said that leveling fake and frivolous charges against political workers and dragging them to courts were the main cause and consequence of political instability in the country.
Expressing solidarity with the PTI chairman, the AJK premier assured him that at this crucial point of time, the party as well as the people of Azad Kashmir would stand on his side.
Referring to the PTI’s stance on holding elections in the country, the PM said that holding elections on time was the only way forward to steer the country out of the severe economic crisis.
He said that all the political parties should rise above their party interests and talk to each other to ensure much needed stability in the country.
The AJK premier was of the view that the PTI leadership should be ready to talk to everyone for the sake of the country.
“If there is any political process, PTI should be a part of it”, the PM said, adding that given the country’s severe economic crisis, there was a dire need that all the political stakeholders should bury their hatchet and sit down on the negotiating table and find a solution to all the problems.
“The economy is in crisis, dollar is at an all-time high and the rupee has lost its value”, the PM said there was an urgent need to manage the economy.
While briefing the PTI chairman about his government’s performance, the PM said that, as per his vision, the AJK government has taken plenty of initiatives to improve the living standard of people. He said that providing basic amenities of life, including education, health care facilities, employment and empowerment of women in AJK were his government’s top priorities.
On this occasion, the PTI chief Imran Khan expressed his full confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Sardar Tanvir Ilyas Khan and satisfaction over his government’s performance.
Khan said that as Prime Minister, he raised the voice of Kashmiris at every forum.
Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on the issue of Kashmir, the former prime minister said that the people of Pakistan would stand with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters unless they achieve their cherished goal of freedom.
The Chairman PTI also congratulated Prime Minister Sardar Tanviraliyas Khan on his landmark victory in recently held local body elections in Azad Kashmir.
During the meeting, Fateh was offered for the departed soul of PTI worker Zil e Shah.
Government ministers, including Maqbool Gujjar, Hafiz Hamid Raza, Ch. Akmal Ali Shan Soni, Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary Javed Butt, Special Assistant Raja Sabil, Toseef Abbasi and Umar Shehzad were also present on the occasion.