PPP censures govt for its ‘silence’ on Kashmir

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan accuses ruling party of using state machinery to win upcoming AJK elections

ISLAMABAD: The main opposition group in parliament on Tuesday censured the government for doling out funds on development schemes ahead of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) while remaining silent over the recent spate of violence at the other part of the disputed Himalayan valley.

“People are perplexed by the government’s policies [on Kashmir],” Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and Leader of Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said while addressing the media at parliament house. Ahsan referred to the recent incidents of violence in the Indian-administered Kashmir and said the PML-N government was silent over Indian aggression. “The PPP stands by the people of Kashmir,” he added.



Indian-administered Kashmir has been seething since the killing in a police encounter of Burhan Wani, the 22-year-old militant commander. Violence in the disputed territory has since claimed over 30 lives.

He also censured the ruling party for announcing development schemes in the AJK ahead of the elections to influence the voters. “The PML-N has also resorted to violence and use of state machinery for their election campaign. Our workers are martyred but we have been patient,” he added.

Talking about the use of state machinery in the AJK, he said the chief secretary and other senior officials were working for the PML-N government. The government is using all these tactics to avoid its defeat in the valley and to run away from the elections but we will not let it happen, he added.

Ahsan said deployment of the army during the elections is also a must.

Talking about the Panamagate scandal and deadlock over the terms of reference (ToRs) for its proposed inquiry commission, he said the government wanted to constitute a toothless commission for the investigations.





In April, leak of the classified data of a Panama-based firm revealed that the family members of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were among dozens of powerful people who had stashed money in offshore companies.

He referred to the CJP Anwar Zaheer Jamali’s response to government’s letter asking for constitution of a commission to probe the scandal and said the CJ had already rejected to constitute a commission the way government wanted.

“The opposition has given opportunity to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for clearing himself from Panama issue,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2016.