Both pro-freedom and pro-Indian political parties hailed the victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the Saturday’s elections in Pakistan and expressed the hope that the steps aimed at the resolution of the Kashmir dispute would be taken to ensure peace in South Asia.
According to KMS, the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq congratulated the people of Pakistan for voting despite threats. He hoped that Nawaz would work towards formulating a mechanism where Kashmiris would have a say in finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir dispute.
Veteran Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Gilani said that it was a “moment of pride that people came out in large numbers despite threats to form a democratic government.” He hoped that a stable Pakistan would be the first Nawaz’s first priority.
“At the same time, Pakistan should continue its moral and diplomatic support to innocent Kashmiri people. Pakistan should use its influence to build pressure on India to implement UN resolutions on Kashmir which guarantees right to self determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Yasin Malik expressed confidence that Nawaz Sharif and his party would work for peace, prosperity and unity in Pakistan and in rest of the Muslim countries. “I hope the new government in Pakistan will not put the Kashmir issue on backburner,” he added.
Kashmiri leader Sajjad Ghani Lone said that Nawaz Sharif had a very positive record on Kashmir and would certainly engage with New Delhi for finding resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Member of Indian-held Kashmir Assembly Engineer Abdur Rasheed hoped that Nawaz would not take the Kashmiris for granted and instead give Kashmir a top priority.
Meanwhile, pro-India Peoples Democratic Party Patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed expressed hope that a democratically elected stable government in Pakistan would play critical role in carrying forward the peace process and resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
