ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chairman of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, administered the oath to four newly elected members at a ceremony in Islamabad.
The members are Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Mushtaq Minhas, Chaudhry Saeed and Chaudhry Manzoor. Sharif congratulated them and urged them to work for the region’s welfare, describing the Council as a link between AJK and Pakistan.
He called on AJK’s president and prime minister to use their constitutional powers and address public concerns through consultation. The federal government, he said, would make available resources to support development, education, healthcare and basic services in the region.
Referring to recent unrest in AJK, Sharif said the government had encouraged dialogue, including through an All Parties Conference in Muzaffarabad. He said the state had a responsibility to respond to actions it considered contrary to the country’s and the region’s interests.
Sharif voiced hope that future projects would bring lasting progress and prosperity to AJK. He also praised Pakistan’s armed and security forces for their role in last year’s Marka-e-Haq.
