Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ruling Muslim Conference President Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan on Tuesday said the two-political party system should continue in AJK in the larger interest of masses and development.
Addressing a news conference here, he said two-party system was a symbol of political harmony in AJK, and vowed any conspiracy to derail that system would be resisted.
Supporting the fractured PPP AJK led by Ishaq Zafar, Atique Khan said PPP leadership should not issue show cause notice to any dissident and gear up for general elections. He said votes scored by independent candidate Mrs Gillani should be counted towards the PPP candidate, because one faction of PPP supported and campaigned for her. He claimed that party supporters and workers did not compromise on party interests for personal interests.
He praised acting chief election commissioner Justice Riaz Akhtar Chaudhry for holding free and fair bye-elections, and added there was no example in any democratic society for such a big turnout in the election of a candidate for six months' time period.
Contrary to Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan's claim of record development and setting up of a large number of educational institutions, Atique Khan stated that the capital city, Muzaffarabad, was giving a dilapidated look. He disclosed that there was no higher secondary school in a union council adjoining the capital, for a huge population of 10,000.
To a question, Muslim Conference chief said Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan is the lone personality left on both sides of LoC, who was practically and globally recognised as a Mujahid (fighter). He said if Sardar Qayyum Khan would have termed Jihad as terrorism, whole Indian media would have pounced on his statement, instead of a report by a little known Indian news agency.
Minister for Forests Mir Ali Akbar, minister for industries Raja Yasin Khan, minister Zakat Yasin Gulshan, minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dewan Ali Chaughtai and a large number of party leaders and workers were present on the occasion.