ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz said the “PML-N is in the strongest position in AJK, and if free and fair polls are held, then our party will win the election with overwhelming majority.”
She made this statement in response to a question during a media talk outside the Islamabad High Court.
She added that people had lost trust in the current system in view of “blatant rigging in the past elections”.
She took a jibe at Prime Minister Imran Khan for trying to redress grievances of angry Baloch and said the premier should first visit the often-targetted Hazara community.
Addressing a gathering in Gwadar a day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he is mulling to hold talks with angry Baloch so that hostile elements, including India, could not use them to spread chaos.
“Balochs are as much Pakistani as you and I and [we should strive to] keep them bonded with the country. Their reservations should be addressed,” Maryam remarked.
She went on to add that the premier should have visited the Hazara community first before talking about taking the Baloch dissidents onboard.
“They were calling for you but you had said at the time that you wouldn’t be blackmailed by bodies,” she said while referring to an earlier protest by the community against the killing of their community members.
When asked about the government’s alleged backdoor contacts with Israel, she believed the government had recognised Israel as “it is not even issuing a denial” to reports and statements from news agencies emphasising on Pakistan’s reported acceptance of the Jewish nation-state.
Maryam stressed the government should apprise the nation of its decision [on Israel]. “It’s not your personal decision… it’s something that is linked to 220 million people of Pakistan.”
She further stated that foreign policy should not be viewed in light of the domestic political situation.”You should first pay attention to [setting your] own home [in order]. [The rulers] shouldn’t lie to the people or deceive them,” she maintained.
The PML-N leader ruled out any deal with the establishment. “People bring up a ‘deal’ all the time,” she said and added, “Why would there be a deal and with whom.”
“We aren’t insane to strike a deal after waging such a struggle. We’ll get to terms with it when things settle down.”
Maryam warned that any rigging in the forthcoming elections in Azad Jammu & Kashmir will have a far-reaching impact.
“The results of rigging in the polls will not be good. Don’t try to steal the elections,” she said and added, “You get defeated even after abducting the polling staff.”
She further said, “Don’t come in the way of the people and their elected representatives.
“The PML-N leader expressed confidence that her party would win the polls if they will be held transparently and independently.
To a question regarding her absence from Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) recently held rally in Swat, she said, “There are no differences within PML-N. Nawaz Sharif has tasked me with [mobilising the party] for the AJK polls, so Shehbaz Sharif represented me in Swat’s gathering.”
“Shehbaz Sharif is my president and of PML-N’s; his presence suffices for us too,” she added.
