News
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Pakistan’s future linked to resolution of Kashmir: Gilani
* PM assures complete political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris till freedom
* Pledges free and fair elections in AJK
Staff Report
BAGH: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the future of Pakistan is closely linked to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and assured complete political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris till their complete freedom.
Addressing a public gathering here on Wednesday, Gilani said that people of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were two bodies and one soul in real terms, enjoying complete unanimity of views on religious, cultural, ethnic, historical and geographical facets of life.
Terming the Kashmiris and the people of Pakistan as an integral part of each other, Gilani said resolution of the Kashmir dispute was at the core of the creation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) laid the foundation of the party as he had differences with General Ayub Khan on the issue of Kashmir. Gilani recalled that ZAB had vowed a war spanning over thousand years to liberate Kashmir.
Prime Minister Gilani claimed that successful policies of the government had improved the lives of millions of people.
He said the party that had a long history in politics spreading over 40 years and had been successfully participating in the national politics, and had also met a resounding success in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Gilani spelt out in detail the measures taken by the party’s leadership and said ZAB and Benazir Bhutto (BB) had taken numerous landmark decisions to bring about a positive change in the lives of people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He recalled that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council and the Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly had the powers to enact laws for the local populace and take important decisions. The prime minister mentioned the easing of rules for the issuance of national identity cards and passports to the residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, two per cent quota for its employees in the federal government, national pay scales and seats for students from Neelum and Leepa valley.
He said that the late ZAB had also set up Special Communications Organisation (SCO) to ensure linkage of far-off areas, besides seeking support from the World Bank, World Food Programme and others for launching development programmes in the area. Gilani said ZAB also introduced primary health system in AJK.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk