Mahmood for right to vote for overseas Kashmiris

AJK prime minister says LB elections to ensure transfer of power to grassroots level

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mahmood said that legislation would be done to give the right to vote to overseas Kashmiris, adding that they could play a significant role in effectively raising the Kashmir cause at all international fora.

He said this during a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday. The president maintained that efforts were being made to ensure improvement in AJK.

Mahmood stated that local bodies elections would be held in AJK so that transfer of power to the grassroots level could be ensured, maintaining that soon accountability process would be started in AJK as well.

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He said that recent development in Afghanistan had left a positive impact on the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that the international community has realised that resolution of the Kashmir issue is vital to establish peace in the region.

He maintained that Narendra Modi was going to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly session on September 25, adding that a protest would be held in front of the UN office to exert pressure on India to solve the Kashmir issue as per UN resolutions.

The president also said that despite all challenges, Pakistan had always stood with the people of IIOJK in their struggle for freedom.

Mahmood further stated that in October, he would be visiting different countries to highlight the Kashmir issue, saying that it was high time to speed up efforts for its resolution. He said the day was not far when innocent and unarmed people of IIOJK would get their right to self-determination.

He remarked that on August 5, 2019, the BJP-led Indian government revoked the special status of IIOJK by abrogating Article 370 and 35-A of the constitution, adding that this strategic blunder by India had drawn the world's attention towards the importance of resolving the Kashmir issue. The international community, besides taking notice of human rights violations in IIOJK, should impose severe sanctions on India, he stressed.

He further paid tribute to the unprecedented struggle of late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani and condemned India's attitude upon his death, adding that every incident in IIOJK by India had fully exposed the ugly face of the Modi government.

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Moreover, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi urged the international community to play their role for early resolution of the long-standing Kashmir issue for ensuring the emergence of lasting and durable peace in the region. He made these remarks during a meeting with the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur held in the federal capital.     

Referring to the development of AJK, he said the government was taking revolutionary steps for the welfare of the people as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He added that the government has fixed targets to implement the reform agenda while steps were being taken to provide relief to the masses and to accelerate the tempo of developmental activities in the state.              

The AJK prime minister said committees have been formed headed by the cabinet minister to propose amendments in Ehtesab and Adhoc Act while local bodies elections will also be held within a year to shift the power at the grassroots level.    

He added that for the first time the federal government has prepared a complete report based on Indian forces repressions on the Kashmiri people to draw the world's attention towards Indian atrocities.         

Gandapur maintained that under the leadership of the AJK Prime Minister, a new era of progress and development would be started in the state and the federal government would extend every possible financial assistance to the AJK government to implement its developmental projects for the wellbeing of its people.