960407

Pakistan

to support

transparent

polls in AJK

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has said that the government will extend full cooperation to the AJK government to hold transparent elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He was speaking on the occasion of a function at the Press Club on Sunday where former Advocate General Sardar Khan joined Peoples Party AJK. President, Peoples Party AJK Barrister Sultan Mahmud was also present.

Khurshid Shah who is also Minister Incharge of AJK Election Affairs said that the present government of Sardar Qayyum is free to fix the dates of the elections and to hold it in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution.

The peoples government, he said, "at present stage do not want to create such situation which may harm movement of freedom waged by Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir."

Speaking on the prevailing situation of Kashmir, Syed Khurshid Shah said the people in AJK are fed up with the government of Sardar Qayyum and levelling charges of bribery and nepotism against his government.

"PPP believes in the promotion of democratic order in the country, therefore it is playing a healthy and positive role of opposition in AJK," he added.

Welcoming Sardar Khan, former Advocate General into the Party, the minister said "the door of PPP is open for all."

To a question, Syed Khurshid said " at present, there is no need to launch process of accountability in Azad Kashmir ".

To a question, the Minister assured that the "PPP government is ready to invite international besides national media to observe the transparency of the forthcoming elections in AJK".-APP