IPP Eyes ‘Big Surprise’ in AJK Polls, Vows Infrastructure and Tourism Revolution: Gul Asghar

Khuram Shahzad

ISLAMABAD, Jun 24 (APP):Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Communications Engineer Gul Asghar Khan Baghoor on Wednesday said the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is poised to deliver a major political surprise in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections.

Speaking to media representatives outside Parliament House, the IPP North Punjab President stated that after establishing its political strength in the Federation, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan, the party is now fully prepared to contest the AJK polls with a robust developmental manifesto.He emphasized that the party’s central agenda for the region focuses on comprehensive development, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and a uniform education system.

Baghoor highlighted that the IPP has secured a significant position in national politics within a remarkably short period, actively executing a public relief agenda as a coalition partner in the federal and Punjab governments.He noted that recent large-scale public rallies in Gilgit-Baltistan proved that the masses are moving away from traditional politics and placing their trust in the IPP leadership.

Unveiling the party’s infrastructure vision for AJK, the Parliamentary Secretary announced plans to connect Muzaffarabad with Mirpur via a new motorway.He further detailed that the road connecting the Murree Expressway to Azad Kashmir would be dualized to bring regional travel facilities up to international standards.Baghoor underlined that boosting tourism in Azad Kashmir is a cause close to the heart of IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan, with the party’s manifesto prioritizing the formal declaration of tourism as an industry.

He added that establishing a network of hydropower projects, modernizing educational infrastructure, and upgrading the healthcare sector remain core components of the party’s regional strategy.Responding to a query regarding the political calendar, Baghoor clarified that the AJK elections will be held exactly on schedule, asserting that election dates cannot be altered at the whim of any single group.

On the ongoing negotiations between the government and protesters, the Parliamentary Secretary revealed that consensus has already been reached on 37 out of 38 points, all of which have been approved.He maintained, however, that the abolition of reserved seats is a purely constitutional matter that cannot be resolved through agitation or force.

He recalled that under a previous agreement with the protesters, the matter was referred to the AJK Supreme Court, which subsequently issued a stay order, demonstrating that such issues can only be resolved through legal mechanisms. Baghoor expressed confidence that the people of Azad Kashmir will fully support the IPP in its journey toward sustainable economic progress and regional stability.