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| April 21, 2006 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 22, 1427 |
Sultan leaves PPP to form People’s ML
ISLAMABAD, April 20: Former AJK Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry Thursday announced to form Jammu and Kashmir People’s Muslim League (JK PML). The move came as a result of serious differences with PPP high command.
Speaking at a crowded press conference, he said the central organisational structure of the new party would be completed in a week’s time. He said chapters of the party would be established in the United States, Canada and different countries of Europe and the Middle East.
He dispelled the impression that his party would represent PML (QA) in Azad Kashmir. He was confident that the JK PML would emerge victorious in the forthcoming AJK polls with the support of the people of Azad Kashmir.
He said the new party had support of 12 members of the AJK Legislative Assembly, a member of the AJK Council, belonging to PPP, and 27 ticket holders. He said a large number of people from the ruling Muslim Conference would also join the party.
He said a revolutionary manifesto of the party would shortly be launched. Giving outline of the manifesto he said women would be given 30 per cent representation in the AJK Legislative Assembly, AJK Council and local bodies.
Terming overseas Kashmiris as back-bone of the country’s economy, he said Ministry of Overseas Kashmiris would be created after his party comes into power.
Barrister Sultan said the new party would end the two party system in Azad Kashmir which had given nothing to the people of the State.
He pointed out that the elections in the AJK were approaching close and the Kashmir problem was in a decisive phase. He said an able government in the state was essential to meet the challenges posed by last year’s devastating earthquake.
Referring to the ongoing dialogue on Kashmir he stressed that Kashmiris as a basic party to the dispute must be included in the process. He said a time has come when a time-frame should be given for inclusion of Kashmiris in the process.
He said India should withdraw her occupation troops from major cities of Held Kashmir, if it was serious in finding out a peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute. India should also repeal all draconian laws including POTA and TADA to help create a conducive atmosphere for settlement of the longstanding Kashmir tangle.
Answering a question, he said Azad Kashmir had a vast potential to become a self-reliant. “It is always economic power which determines political power,” he remarked.
He said there is a great potential for hydro electricity generation in Azad Kashmir which had also been endowed with rich mineral resources by Allah Almighty. He said many areas of the state could be developed to attract tourists in large number.
He said the new party after coming into power would woo investment and promote industrialisation in the State to deal with the problem of unemployment.
Later, Barrister Sultan Mehmood unfurled a tri-colour party flag to mark the formal launch of the JK PML.
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