ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): Minister for Kashmir Affairs
and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir on Wednesday expressed the optimism that Pakistan Muslim League-(N) will win election with two thirds majority in Azad Kashmir and celebrate “the day of victory” after the result announcement.
Addressing a press conference here, he said, “The people
of Kashmir had decided to vote like people of Gilgit-Baltistan
who voted in favour of Pakistan Muslim League (N).”
The minister said that it was his desire that elections
are held in the presence of army in order to ensure transparency of the elections.
Tahir said that 22,000 army troops along with 4000 FC
personnel and police will perform duty on election day.
“In the presence of Pakistan army, FC and police no one
can think about rigging in the elections,” he added.
To a question, he said under the Public Sector Development
Programme, the federal government had given Rs 13 billion to the AJK government. While, it would spend Rs 10 billion annually for the development of AJK, he added.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also given funds
for Mirpur and Muzaffarabad medical colleges.
He said many mega development projects including construction of motorway and railway links had been announced by the PML-N government in AJK in its manifesto.
He said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif wanted equal and non-discriminatory progress in the country.
Barjees Tahir said in the next five years, Rs 50 billion
would be spent on construction of roads and infrastructure
rehabilitation in Azad Kashmir.
He said ambulance service of helicopters will be started
in Azad Kashmir to facilitate the patients of the far-flung and
hilly areas.
The minister said AJK government collected Rs 21 billion
less in revenue in last five years and the government is running its affairs on an overdraft.
He said victory of PML-N in elections would change the
destiny of Azad Kashmir as the party had planned to undertake massive development projects in the region.
The minister said that government had allowed the PPP
government to function and when a no-confidence motion was brought against the AJK premier, the top PML-N leadership advised its AJK leaders to distance themselves from the motion.
“We want to bring change in AJK through power of vote
and people’s verdict in the AJK election will be accepted,” he
added.
He said federal government had given Rs 97 billion to
AJK government for development but not a single development project had been started by the PPP government in the valley.
He said on the request of AJK speaker, Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif had allocated Rs 2.5 billion for constructing a
building for the AJK Parliament.
The minister said that amendments in 1974 AJK Act
should be made keeping in view the present scenario.
He said the AJK prime minister himself is contesting the
elections and had deployed administration of his own choice.
Barjees said that PPP government in AJK is reportedly
involved in violence and filing of fake cases against PML-N
workers.
