Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday strongly criticised PML-N Chief, Nawaz Sharif for undermining national interests and also damaging the Kashmir cause. Talking to the media the minister further said that the leaders should be careful while making any statement because at this stage they needed to strengthen the Kashmir cause.
Dr Awan was of the opinion that establishment of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Azad Kashmir had become more vital now because the Kashmir issue was projected at international forums successfully by Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. The PPP leadership was working and following the same agenda for the peaceful settlement of this long-standing dispute, she said. The minister further said that fast approaching AJK elections would be held in fair and free environment and necessary arrangements for transparency in the elections had already been finalised in Pakistan.
Dr Awan further said that these steps have been taken for edging out the possibilities of engineered election aimed at providing an opportunity to the refugees settled in different districts of the Punjab to exercise their right of vote during the polling. It was very unfortunate that most of the representatives for the AKJ legislation Assembly were the product of engineered elections, she said. The minister further said that all political parties should adopt a collective approach for the betterment of the people.
The PPP believed in democracy and had struggled for making the country a democratic state. The PPP led government had paid special attention on strengthening the democratic institutions and promotion of democracy at gross root levels in every nook and corner in the country, she said.
The minister said that the restoration of democracy was the result of sacrifices made by the leadership of PPP and workers in the country. Dr Awan further said that PPP led government was committed to banish backwardness from politically neglected far-off areas. Earlier, Minister for Information inaugurated Benazir Transport scheme. Prime Minister Gilani has provided six buses to facilitate only rural women and female students.