Pakistan Today

Nawaz blames judiciary for scuttling his Kashmir plans

PakistanToday

 

MUZAFFARABAD: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the judiciary “ruined his plans” for the development of Kashmir, particularly the eradication of unemployment.

Referring to the Panama case verdict that disqualified him from office last year, Nawaz asserted that no decision whatsoever can break his bond of love with Kashmiri.

Addressing a public gathering organised by his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding Kashmir Solidarity Day at the Muzaffarabad University College Ground, Nawaz said, “[Even though] I have been disqualified from Pakistan, [I am] qualified for Azad Jammu Kashmir” as he announced to dedicate his services to the Kashmir’s development.

The PML-N president took a jibe at the superior judiciary as he evoked his popularity, saying “They ruined my plans for the development of Kashmir, had I not been disqualified I would have eliminated poverty from the region.” He went on to add that his bond of love with the people of Kashmir cannot be quashed and his heart beats equally for Pakistanis and Kashmiris.

“Respect the vote. Respect Pakistan,” Nawaz went on to roar amid chants of vote ko izzat do and Kashmir bane ga Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan) as he further bashed the judiciary over the Panama Papers’ verdict that ousted him.

He began his speech by thanking the hosts and the people present at the venue and predicted that the freedom struggle in Indian-held Kashmir will achieve victory soon.

The three-time premier said he has never seen a bigger rally than this in the history of Kashmir, adding that the rally today (Monday) is three times bigger than the one he addressed at the same venue after winning the last general elections in 2013.

Nawaz also promised to turn Muzaffarabad into Lahore, vowing a continuous increase in AJK’s development budget. “We will make a four-lane motorway from Muzaffarabad to Mirpur, Dina,” adding that a similar project would be constructed from the city to Mansehra. “

The PML-N chief said that he had several plans for the AJK’s development that would have eliminated unemployment from the region, but they were all ruined due to his disqualification in July last year.

Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. Following the disqualification, Nawaz and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have launched an anti-judiciary campaign, with accusing the judiciary of acting in bias.

While evoking the importance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day, he paid tribute to the resistance in India-held Kashmir and lauded their “bravery”. He vowed to stand by the people of Kashmir that were struggling for their right to self-determination.

“The brave people of Kashmir are being blinded by the pellet guns used to fire at them,” Nawaz said, referring to incidents of injuries resulting from Indian forces’ use of pellet guns against the separatists and citizens in Kashmir. “Don’t lose heart! God is with you,” Nawaz consoled the people.

Touting the political importance of heir-apparent Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz told the loyalists that he had asked Maryam to address the participants.”

Addressing the participants, PML-N leader daughter Maryam Nawaz also spoke on the occasion, saying her heart bleeds for the people of Kashmir, but remains positive that there will come a day when held Kashmir [Indian-occupied Kashmir] will gain independence from “Srinagar’s slavery”.

Recalling the victory in the state’s general elections in 2016, she thanked the crowd for showing their support for her party, saying that the people of AJK “did not vote for any party but PML-N” in the elections. The party had bagged 31 seats out of the total 41 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

On his arrival in Kashmir’s capital earlier in the day, Nawaz held meetings with the members of the AJK Council, party leaders, Raja Farooq Haider and others.

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