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| February 17, 2006 | Friday | Muharram 18, 1427 |
AJK PPP rejects phased polls
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: AJK People’s Party (AJK PPP) on Thursday rejected phased polls in Azad Kashmir saying that it would provide an opportunity to the federal and Punjab governments to influence the elections.
Speaking at a press conference here, the AJK PPP president, Sahibzada Ishaq Zafar, said his party was opposed to the postponement of elections as well as holding of snap polls.
He called for delegating the powers of the AJK Cabinet to the judiciary with the announcement of the election schedule so as to avert the possibility of rigging in the polls.
Ishaq Zafar said the party will field candidates for 41 seats. He did not explain the reason as to why the rest of the seven seats would be left uncontested for the political opponents.
He said an election cell in this connection had been set up. He said they will hold public rallies in 10 big units after the district convention in March.
Ishaq Zafar said the PPP will not accept any new political party in Azad Kashmir formed with the support of the federal government.
He expressed full confidence in the incumbent chief election commissioner and demanded that the relief activities be given under his control with the announcement of the election schedule.
He said a proposal for constituting a new parliamentary board was being sent to the party’s chairperson, Benazir Bhutto. He said he had been appointed as party president by Benazir Bhutto adding that he will take all decisions in consultation with her.
Ishaq Zafar said the process of reorganisation of the party will be completed by March. He said a strong and stable Pakistan could ensure success of the indigenous Kashmir liberation movement.
Answering a question about the meeting of the former party president, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, with Benazir Bhutto, he said it was known to all that Salis Kiani had been nominated by the party as a candidate for the recent AJK Council elections.
He said the membership of those who voted against the party candidate had been suspended.
He said Barrister Sultan will remain an alien in the party till his membership was restored. He said Barrister Sultan Mahmood had not accepted him as party chief for 15 months. He said four out of six members of the AJK Assembly, who had been issued notices, had sent their replies.
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