ISLAMABAD  - Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked the party’s Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chapter to get ready for the upcoming elections in the area and field the genuine party workers in the elections who stood by the party through thick and thin.
Talking to the leaders of PPP AJK Chapter who called on him Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed them to step up the process of selecting the party candidates for the forthcoming elections in the area and wanted to see the genuine people to come forward and play their role in taking the cause of people of Kashmir and party forward.
The PPP AJK chapter leaders who called on him included President AJK Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob, Prime Minister AJK Chaudhry Abdul Majid, Latif Akbar and Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf. While the central leaders of the party including former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Ms Faryal Talpur MNA and former Governor Latif Khosa were also in attendance.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asked the Kashmir chapter of the Party to get ready for the forthcoming elections and directed the Party leaders to step up the process of selecting the party candidates for the forthcoming elections.
He said that the parliamentary board for the award of party tickets must meet regularly and finalise recommendations for the award of party tickets. It is important so that the party is ready for campaigning as soon as the elections are announced. He said that party tickets should be awarded after thorough scrutiny.
Laying down the criteria, he said, a candidate’s past performance, reputation for integrity, rapport with the voters, service to the people, history of political struggle and consistency in standing by the Party through thick and thin should be taken into account while making recommendations for award of party tickets.
Talking to the delegation Bilawal Bhutto said that the people of Kashmir are a key to a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute and that the Pakistan People’s will continue to support them in their just struggle.
Resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir is also central to peace in the region, he said.
He said that the right of franchise of a people was a most fundamental right which cannot be ignored.
The delegation also briefed the party chairman on the political situation obtaining in the AJK with particular reference to the forthcoming elections.