Ministers credict PM Shehbaz Sharif with addressing AJK issue timely

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's prompt intervention has averted a significant crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

 These views were expressed by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Amir Maqam, and Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.

They said that the inimical forces conspiracy was foiled and faced humiliation due to the Prime Minister’s timely actions.

Mir Maqam also commended President Asif Ali Zardari's efforts in addressing the concerns of the Kashmiri people.

Tarar said the PM Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to resolve the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir had averted a tragedy.

Terming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as “Tehreek-e-Intishar”, he said its dreams of creation of chaos and anarchy had also been shattered.

“Along with the enemy, the ‘Tehreek-e-Intishar’ also thought that in some way or the other, chaos would spread and there would be anarchy” as its leadership wanted to take benefit from the sad situation.

Attaullah Tarar said that the Prime Minister took all the coalition parties and stakeholders on board and heard their views.

The minister said the political leadership and federal ministers resolved the issues through mutual understanding.

Lashing out at the founder of PTI,  he said Imran Khan was a convicted prisoner facing trial in several corruption cases.

“Kashmir is our jugular vein, we will not let any enemy look at it with an evil eye,”  he remarked.

To a question, he said that the Kashmir issue was being raised at all relevant forums and it should be resolved according to UN resolutions.

Expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred policemen, he said they will be supported.

To a question he said that the AJK had a special status and its affairs were run with the grant of the federal government.

Mir Muqam said in response to local demands, the government has reassigned 36 vehicles and 213 employees from the Kashmir Council to the AJK administration, ensuring that all outstanding issues will be expedited.

Further, Maqam announced the transfer of a substantial Kashmir Council fund amounting to Rs 7.6 billion to the AJK government's control. Additionally, Prime Minister Sharif has sanctioned a Rs 23 billion subsidy for flour and electricity, formalizing the agreement with an official notification detailing the revised rates.

Addressing another major concern, the minister assured that the charges on water resources, a long-standing issue for the Kashmiris, would be resolved within the next 30 days.

 Moreover, a financial aid package is slated to be distributed to the families of the martyred, providing them with much-needed support.