AJK PM says Kashmir’s future is tied to a strong Pakistan

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday said the bond between the people of کشمیر and Pakistan was rooted in a shared ideology, and maintained that a strong and stable Pakistan was essential for the liberation of the occupied territory.

He was speaking at a large Pakistan Zindabad rally in Rehra, Bagh district, held to mark the anniversary of Marka-i-Haq. A sizeable number of people attended the gathering despite heavy rain.

During his address, Mr Rathore reaffirmed AJK’s political and ideological alignment with Pakistan and also referred to what he described as his government’s development drive.

Recalling developments from May last year, the AJK premier paid tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces and said India had tried to destabilise the region through what he called a conspiracy based on falsehoods.

"Last May, the forces of falsehood were defeated by the forces of truth," he told the crowd. "In that critical hour, Pakistan created history by thwarting Indian designs, and today, Pakistan’s prestige stands higher than ever on the global diplomatic stage.

He also said the sacrifices made by martyrs and their families would remain a lasting part of AJK’s history.

Bridge project inaugurated during visit

The visit also included an emotional moment when Mr Rathore laid the foundation stone of the Chhatar Dhara Bridge. The project had originally been announced in 1990 by his late father, former prime minister Mumtaz Hussain Rathore.

Responding to his critics, the AJK prime minister said the first seven months of a government were usually considered a honeymoon period, but added that his administration had used that time to rebuild public confidence in what he termed a broken system.

Political leaders share stage at Rehra gathering

The rally also featured speeches by former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, former minister Sardar Qamar-uz-Zaman, his son and minister for communications Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, and adviser Ahmed Saghir, turning the event into a broader show of political unity.

Earlier, a vehicular rally travelled from Bagh to Rehra, where slogans in support of the armed forces and AJK’s accession to Pakistan were raised.

Mr Rathore said the public response to his visits reflected support for his governance agenda. He referred in particular to the reception he had recently received in Samahni, where, according to him, he was showered with petals in large quantities. He said this amounted to a public endorsement of his mission of service across the territory, from Taobat to Bhimber.