I will lay down my life, won’t let democracy be harmed: PM
ATHMUQAM: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday said that the PPP leaders would sacrifice their lives but never let any harm come to democracy, adding that the government would ensure free, fair and transparent general elections and no one should have any doubt about this.
“The process of holding another election will further strengthen democracy in the country. The polls will be transparent and open for all to prove their prowess and popularity amongst the masses,” the prime minister told a large public gathering at scenic Athmuqam, some 84 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) after inaugurating the Muzaffarabad-Athmuqam Highway and launching the mobile service of Special Communication Organisation (SCO) in the area. He said the polls were near and the PPP would win a majority.
AJK President Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Wattoo, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Ch Yaseen were present on the occasion.
The prime minister said the mobile service was a step forward in providing a modern communication linkage to people living in remote areas and a fulfillment of yet another pledge to the masses. He announced construction of a metalled road in Taobut, a village in AJK. He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had held the people of AJK in high esteem and under the guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari the area would see landmark progress and success.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said it was a matter of pleasure for him that he had risen from the ranks of an ordinary worker and would remain a worker. “I am proud to belong to the middle class and can vouch that the poor of the country are brave, upright and committed to working selflessly for the progress of Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister said the AJK leadership, like him, was also elevated from the rank of a worker. He said it was clear proof that the party kept its committed workers in high esteem. He said the PPP government, with the help of its allies, would make all-out efforts to serve the masses and continue pursuing clean politics based on principles.
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan would continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of AJK till the resolution of the dispute in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people. He said he offered special prayers for the people of Pakistan and AJK during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, adding that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz also stressed the need for Pakistan having good relations with all its neighbours.
Earlier, Maj Gen Khalid Rao, SCO director general, briefed the prime minister on the provision of state-of-the-art telecomm facilities to the people of AJK. He also highlighted challenges like difficult terrain, severe weather conditions, close proximity of Line of Control (LOC), security concerns about GSM signal spill over across LOC and the lack of funding in the development of telecomm infrastructure.
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