MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir and PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider Khan has said that no package or development project can be given 120 days before the elections.
He was referring to the Rathore-led PPP government’s educational reforms in the state. “We will approach the Election Commission against the educational package, and after consultation, we will decide to appeal against the decisions of the High Court and Supreme Court.”
Speaking at Meet the Press programme at the Central Press Club Muzaffarabad, Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that refugees residing in Pakistan are part of our being and no one can separate them.
He said pre-election rigging has already started at the government level. He said Muslim League-N will not form an alliance with any party, it will win the election alone and form the government.
“The parliamentary board, under the chairmanship of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, will issue tickets to party candidates in the next few days.”
Haider said Muslim League-N has more than one candidates in every constituency, with up to 26 candidates having submitted applications from one constituency.
He said that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party and Muslim Conference established the tradition of giving voting rights to non-state individuals.
Farooq Haider stated that he has personally submitted an application to become a party in the writ petition filed against the 13th amendment.
“Due to global circumstances, the Government of Pakistan is also under financial pressure, and it is uncertain whether Azad Kashmir’s financial needs, including development funds, will be met.” The next government of Azad Kashmir will face pressure to increase throw-forward, he added.
He said in Poonch Division alone, contractors were waiting for Rs13 billion as pending dues.
The PML-N leader warned that India’s intentions are extremely dangerous. “At this time, anti-Muslim sentiment is at its peak in India. The world’s attention is focused on the Iran-America conflict. In such a situation, the BJP’s Hindutva government is active for its political objectives.”
General elections for the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly are expected in mid-July. Muslim League-N, along with the Pakistan Peoples’ Party and other political parties, has started its activities.
PML-N will make no alliances
Muslim League-N has decided that there will be no electoral alliance with any political party, nor has any seat adjustment with any political party been considered yet.
He said under the Election Act 2020 and the Amendment Act 2021, no package or development project can be given 120 days before general elections. A written application in this regard is being submitted to the Election Commission, he added.
