BAGH, Jun 17 (APP): Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani Friday said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the torch bearer of progress and prosperity in Azad Kashmir and the PML-N government would ensure facilities for people at their doorsteps.

He was speaking at a gathering of PML-N leaders and workers here.

He said Nawaz Sharif had same vision and plan of prosperity for Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and he wanted progress and development
in both areas.

Kirmani assured that during the government of PML-N, people would not have to seek justice but would get it at their doorsteps.

Nawaz Sharif would implement his plans and carry out projects like Neelum Jhelum project and motorway in Kashmir, he added.

“Name of Nawaz Sharif was synonymous with progress, prosperity
and brightness.”

He said projects in sectors of education, health, clean drinking water and roads would be undertaken, adding it was dream of Nawaz Sharif that AJK becomes a quality tourist destination.

He said PML-N would heavily win the elections of AJK on July 21.

He said people who ruled AJK at different times did nothing for Kashmiris in 60 years.

The previous governments looted AJK, made empty promises and
denied rights to the people, he added.

He said looters and mafias damaged the Kashmir cause, adding
those who had lust for power were imposed on the common man.

These elements wanted to join the PML-N but the leadership refused to take them in party fold, he added.
He said those who got votes of people did nothing for the people.

Kirmani said PMLN was party of Quaid e Azam who made Pakistan
despite opposition of Hindus, Sikhs, British and others.

LAHORE, June 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and
Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal said on Friday that positive attitude and political stability were imperative to ensure economic progress and development of the country.

Addressing the Huawei-Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) summer
internship programme celebration 2016 here at a local hotel, he said that the country has reached at a stage where the world was hopeful about its progress.

“Two days back Pakistan again has been included in Emerging Market
Index and the world was seeing Pakistan as emerging economy, he said and added it was all due to able leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, his team and people of the country.”

The minister said that terrorists have been crushed and law and order
situation in Karachi has been improved a lot whereas the Balochistan has also been included in national streamline, he added.

Ahsan Iqbal said that importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor
could not be minimized, adding that work on various energy projects under CPEC was underway which would help overcome electricity crisis.

He said that unfortunately in last 67 years the coal in Thar was not
utilized for the development of the country but now the mining work has been started under CPEC. The coal would also be utilized for electricity production, he added.

Federal Minister said that work on 3600 MW LNG power projects was also in progress and the electricity generated with these projects would be added in national grid.

He said that all these measures should have been taken some 10 to 15
years back but now the present government knowing its responsibilities focused on overcoming all existing challenges.

He said that investment on energy, infrastructure, transport and human was being made. He said there were a lot of opportunities for engineers in CPEC.

Ahsan Iqbal said that with a vision of making country a digital
economy, the 3G and 4G license were auctioned.

He said that youth was empowered through laptops and today, the
students were working with renowned software houses as laptops helped them to achieve their goals.

He further said that optic fibre cable was being installed from Khushab
to Islamabad which would benefit IT industry and other sectors.

He appealed to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chief Tahir-ul-Qadri to quit the politics of sit-ins.

He said that protests and sit-ins just created unrest in the country.
PEC Chairman Jawad Salim Quershi and Huawei Deputy Managing Director Mr Tony Lee also spoke on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has urged India to respect the religious rights and values of Kashmiri people.

Talking to a seven member Hurriyat delegation led by Chairman Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, Zaffar Akbar Bhat in Islamabad, he said
Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support
to the Kashmiri people at all the international fora. The sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste.

Paying glowing tributes to martyrs of Kashmir, the Minister urged the media to highlight Kashmir’s freedom struggle in true spirit.

He said the silence of international community on Kshmir issue is incomprehensible. Right to self determination is fundamental right of Kashmiris. Pakistan will not withdraw political and moral support of Kashmiris.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has vigorously pursued the issue of Kashmir in United Nations. Pakistan offers facilities to visiting Yatrees, India should also provide matching facilities to Pakistani
pilgrims in India, he said.

The delegation said India want to turn the Muslim majority into
minority in the occupied territory. The Hurriyet Leaders appreciated
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for highlighting Kashmir issue at the
United Nations and other forums.

The delegation comprising Narender Singh Khalisa, Mehmood Ahmed Sagar, Abdul Majeed Malik, Shaikh Abdul Mateen, Altaf Ahmed Bhut and Sardar Azeem.

Zafar Akbar Bhat said Hurriyat enjoying support of Kashmiri people. Kashmiris are peaceful people and believe in political struggle.

He said there should be more opportunities for interaction between the people of Azad Kashmir and Occupied Kashmir. Hurriyat leadership is incarcerated on important religious occasions, which is against their religious freedom.

He said Kashmiris will foil Indian attempts of transforming Muslim population into minority.

Narendera Singh said minorities are enjoying religious freedom. He lauded the arrangements for Sikh yatrees in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): On the directions of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in an operation arrested a gang of five persons including personnel
of Special Branch and Punjab police.

The gang was involved in extorting money from overseas Pakistanis for verification of their Pakistani citizenship.

Interior Minister received a written application through Pakistan High Commission London that money was being demanded from Pakistanis living in Britain for verification of their Pakistani citizenship.

According to a press release, there were a huge number of Pakistanis
who went abroad in 60s and 70s and some people in them did not have
any documentary evidence for their Pakistani citizenship.

Therefore whenever these Pakistanis contact the Pakistan embassy for Pakistani passport or other documents their papers were sent to Pakistan for verification of citizenship.

In a letter sent by Pakistan High Commission, it was told that in the recent past, complaints were received that these Pakistanis were blackmailed.

The Interior Minister took notice of the situation and ordered action against the accused.

The minister also issued instructions for recovery of the illegal amount.