MIRPUR: During an election gathering in Mirpur, former Prime Minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif responded playfully to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, remarking, “This is Kashmir, not Kashmore, and this is Mirpur, not Mirpurkhas.”
While addressing the crowd, Nawaz clarified, “Bilawal, please don’t take my comments personally. Healthy political discourse is essential.” He emphasized that politics should be rooted in rivalry rather than violence.
Reflecting on his connection with Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Nawaz stated that he considers the region his first home, not just a secondary one. He also criticized the lack of significant development in AJK since his departure from office.
The upcoming elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly are scheduled to take place in three phases, beginning July 27. According to Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, the Chief Election Commissioner of AJK, Mirpur Division will vote first on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division on August 2, and Poonch Division on August 10.
In his speech at the rally, Nawaz highlighted the PML-N’s election manifesto for AJK and challenged other parties by asking if anyone else had delivered development projects in the region like the PML-N has.
He announced that the party would focus on improving education for youth and promised to establish additional hospitals specializing in cancer and cardiac care in AJK. Nawaz also mentioned that Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is working on introducing electric buses and mobile health units in Mirpur.
Regarding infrastructure development, Nawaz pledged to construct motorways connecting different parts of AJK, build an expressway from Murree to Muzaffarabad, ensure gas availability to every household in Mirpur, and seek an international airport for Mirpur from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if the PML-N secures the next government.
During the rally, Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Punjab, expressed her confidence that the PML-N will achieve victory across all divisions of AJK in the upcoming elections.
