More provinces should be formed on administrative basis in order to handle the state of affairs and everybody is looking to join the federal government, which might not be good for the country, Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed said on Sunday.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Pakistan Association of Photo Journalists’ (PAPJ) photo exhibition on Kashmir at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal. Prime Minister Attique said that peace in South Asia was linked with the Kashmir issue and the issue should be solved according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sardar Abdul Qayyum, the former president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir.
The Kashmiri prime minister said that as many as 40 provinces could be formed in Pakistan, adding that the phenomenon of new provinces was getting popular all over the world and de-centralisation would facilitate governance. He said that there should be a state policy on Kashmir and the Line of Control (LoC) could not divide the Kashmiris mentally. He said that unfortunately the LoC was depriving Kashmiris of taking part in each other’s happiness and sorrow.
The Azad Kashmir prime minister said that he has asked the international community to compare the situation of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) and Azad Kashmir. He said that Kashmir was not only known for its natural beauty but also has a rich history, spirituality, minerals, literature and various other things. Attique said that Kashmir was a part of Pakistan and its solution could not be ignored and the Quaid-e-Azam and Sardar Abdul Qayyum had clearly defined their policy on Kashmir.
He said that Kashmir was Pakistan’s past, present and future, adding that why the Kashmir issue could not be solved on the table despite the fact that the two countries were formed on dialogue and the Indus Water Treaty was also solved on the table. The Kashmiri leader said that the relationship of Kashmiris and Pakistanis could not be separated. He also highlighted the development work after the 2005 massive earthquake in the state.
