AJK PM warns Islamabad against accepting US mediation offer on Kashmir

Raja Farooq Haider says such moves would only benefit India

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Wednesday warned Prime Minister Imran Khan against accepting United States’ offer to mediate on Kashmir dispute, saying that such moves would only benefit India.

“All of us are backing the people of the occupied land. Washington will never support our cause as Palestine has been destroyed after mediation by the United States. Moreover, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had warned us that Indian Congress will deceive Muslims,” he underscored.

Addressing the special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly, the prime minister extended support to the Kashmiris, saying that besieged people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) were not alone as Pakistan, despite all its challenges, firmly stands with them.

“Pakistan is helping Kashmiris despite all difficulties. A national consensus should be developed in Pakistan to unite the nation," Haider said, expressing profound gratitude to the Pakistani nation and the government for proffering unwavering support to the oppressed Kashmiris by observing the ‘Solidarity Day’ in a befitting manner.

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Referring to Pakistan as "an ultimate goal for Kashmiris", AJK premier asserted that people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir are ready to receive enemies’ bullets that are aimed at Pakistan on their chest.

Haider said Kashmir Solidarity Day this year had assumed great significance after August 5 last year, when the Indian government took illegal and unilateral steps to revoke the special status of IOJ&K.

Opposition Leader in AJK Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, PTI Parliamentary leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, Muslim Conference's Malik Muhammad Nawaz, Jammat-e-Islami's Abdul Rasheed Turabi and PPP leader Sardar Hassan Ibrahim also addressed the session.

Prime Minister Imran also addressed the special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly, saying that India’s August 5 move would pave way for the independence of the occupied valley.

Haider pleaded to the prime minister to opt for reconciliation with other parties, indirectly alluding to certain leaders of political parties, who had been facing corruption cases. In his speech, however, Imran vehemently opposed the idea.

He said he was a democrat and reaffirmed his firm stance against corruption. He maintained that he had no personal enmity with anyone but “if anyone had looted the national wealth or committed corruption, how could he be spared?” he said: “It’s fight against corruption.”

Earlier, upon PM Imran’s arrival in Muzaffarabad, the AJK premier, Speaker Legislative Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir and other high-ranking officials accorded a warm welcome to the prime minister of Pakistan, who was also given guard of honour upon his arrival at the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Premier Imran was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur and Kashmir Committee Chairman Syed Fakhar Imam.