Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz set to address PML-N rally in Muzaffarabad today

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is due to address a public gathering in Muzaffarabad on Tuesday as political activity intensifies ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections.

In a video message issued on Monday, PML-N Azad Jammu and Kashmir president Shah Ghulam Qadir said Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz would speak at the party rally at Khurshid Hasan Khurshid Stadium in Muzaffarabad. He said all arrangements for Nawaz Sharif’s visit had been completed.

According to the party leader, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination Senator Rana Sanaullah and Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam had already reached Muzaffarabad along with other party figures to supervise preparations for the event. The rally is scheduled to begin at 4pm, while security has been tightened across the AJK capital.

On Monday, Rana Sanaullah, accompanied by PML-N candidate Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, toured the city’s main markets and met traders and voters as part of the election campaign. Qadir also called on party candidates, leaders, local government representatives and workers from across AJK to take part in the public meeting.

He said the PML-N had consistently given priority to public service in AJK and would seek a renewed mandate on the basis of its performance. He also said the party leadership had stood with the people of Kashmir during difficult periods.

PPP campaign activity

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is also scheduled to address an election gathering in Nakyal in support of the party’s candidate and incumbent Food Minister Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, who is contesting against PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem.

Bilawal began his AJK election campaign last week with an unannounced three-day stay in Muzaffarabad, during which he met party leaders at a local hotel. He later addressed public meetings in Dadyal on July 17 and in Kotli city on July 19.

After Tuesday’s rally, Bilawal is scheduled to address two more public meetings in the coming days, in Mirpur on July 23 and in Muzaffarabad on July 24. Nawaz Sharif is also expected to address another election rally in Mirpur later this week.