- Terms those parting ways from the agreement as ‘incurable’
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said he still adhered to the Charter of Democracy (CoD), and termed those as ‘incurable’ who wanted to part ways from the agreement.
“Being a signatory of Charter of Democracy, I still stand by it. However, if someone pursues a policy of denial, you can do nothing about it,” the Prime Minister said in his remarks at the 53rd budget session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council here.
The Charter was signed in May 2006 by Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party’s then Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for restoration and strengthening of democracy in the country.
The statement comes at a time when PPP’s Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has just returned to the country after 18 months and announced to take part in active politics and join parliament, along with his son Bilawal Bhutto.
Bilawal, on the other hand, has announced to launch a long march in protest to government’s failure to meet his four-point demands.
The Charter paved way for the return of both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto back in military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s regime. But before Benazir could taste the fruits of CoD, she was assassinated in a shooting-and-bombing incident in late 2007.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said tolerance and mutual understanding was the basis of democracy, which his party was following in letter and spirit.
He said Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) believed in running the affairs of government with mutual understanding with other political parties, adding the governments in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan were examples to the fact.
He said PML-N received an overwhelming mandate by the people of AJK and urged upon the elected members of AJK Legislative Assembly to come up to the expectations of their voters who reposed confidence in them.
The Prime Minister said the government was steadfast in achieving its objectives of development in the country and would fulfill its commitment of ending power load shedding by 2018.
He said there existed immense potential in AJK for hydroelectric plants due to availability of abundant water resources.
He invited the local people to invest in power projects in AJK and assured of support by federal government.
Nawaz Sharif said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was an exemplary project which would bring positive outcome for Pakistan in diverse sectors.
Two members of AJK Legislative Assembly take oath
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday administered oath to two newly-elected members of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Abdul Khaliq Wasi and Chaudhry Muhammad Siddiq took oath of their office at the 53rd budget session of AJK Council.
AJK President Masood Khan was also present.
Fateha was also offered for the martyrs of Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Earlier, the PM arrived here to attend the 53rd budget session of Azad Jammu Kashmir Council.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Barjees Tahir, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir and Senator Pervaiz Rasheed accompanied the PM.
