AJK PM renounces any divide in PPP over his election

ISLAMABAD - Ruling out any split or divide in the party, newly-elected AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed said they were all united under the leadership of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and would serve the cause of the people of Azad Kashmir. In interviews with TheNation and Waqt News here on Wednesday, Ch Abdul Majeed said his election to the slot of AJK premiership was unanimous and he brushed aside the impression of any divide in the party over his election. Without naming Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, the AJK premier said there was no heavyweight in the party and all the party members were equally respectable for the party leadership. He also underplayed his differences with Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry and said they were vying for the slot of AJK premier but after his selection by the party leadership they both would serve the cause of the party and the people of AJK. He said being the prime minister of a sensitive base camp of the freedom movement, he would take all the stakeholders on board in decision making. He would work out a comprehensive strategy in consultation with all stakeholders for the development of AJK. A comprehensive development strategy in line with the manifesto of party had been devised and the people would see for themselves the results in first three months of the newly-elected PPP government. I want to make it loud and cleat through media that diplomatic and moral support to the ongoing freedom struggle in the Occupied Kashmir would continue, he said, adding the government would effectively and efficiently highlight the Kashmir issue at the international forums. To another question, he said the people of AJK suffered due to political instability in the past. He assured that the problems being faced by the masses, particularly of those who suffered in the earthquake and floods, would be resolved on priority basis. Earlier, the AJK PM visited the Liaqat Bagh where PPP life chairperson Benazir Bhutto was martyred and offered Fateha for the departed soul along with scores of PPP activists. He expressed his optimism that like AJK the PPP would win the future general elections in Pakistan and Bilawal Bhutto would become the youngest prime minister of Pakistan. While talking to Waqt News, the AJK PM lauded the role of Majid Nizami and daily Nawa-i-Waqt regarding Kashmir and Nazria Pakistan. He said some 0.8 million Indian army was committing excesses in the Occupied Kashmir but India was refusing to hold plebiscite despite claiming itself the biggest democracy in the world. Chaudhry Abdul Majeed said that AJK was facing annual loss of Rs 20-25 billion, adding eradicating corruption and changing of the system was his top priority. First of all I myself will hold accountable in the eyes of law and will spend the nation exchequer with full responsibility, he concluded.

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