Former Prime Minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Friday advised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not to take political remarks personally and emphasized healthy political rivalry over bitterness. Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, addressed an election rally in Mirpur, about 258 kilometers from Muzaffarabad. They criticized rival parties for making lofty pre-election promises before shifting responsibility for solving public issues to the federal government.
"This is Kashmir, not Kashmore, and this is Mirpur, not Mirpurkhas," Nawaz said, referring to the two Sindh districts where the PPP has been in power for several years. He promised to usher AJK in a "new era of development, prosperity and modern infrastructure".
"A PML-N government will modernize AJK by expanding transport, education, healthcare and other public services," Nawaz told the gathering, adding that he would personally oversee the implementation of important development projects across the region.
"The people of Mirpur deserve the same quality of public services available in Punjab," he said, adding that if electric buses can run in Lahore and Islamabad, there is no reason why the people of AJK should be deprived of them. Nawaz said PML-N had consistently delivered development projects in AJK and challenged political opponents to identify any government that had taken more significant initiatives in the region. "Wherever you see major development work in AJK, you will find the imprint of PML-N," he said. He also announced that every deserving student in AJK would receive a laptop to promote access to modern education and technology. Maryam Nawaz described herself as a "daughter of Kashmir"and said that both her paternal and maternal grandparents belonged to the region. "I consider myself Kashmiri by heart and soul," she said, adding that she was proud of her Kashmiri heritage despite criticism from political opponents. The Punjab Chief Minister expressed concern over the condition of the roads in Mirpur and said the city deserved better infrastructure in recognition of the sacrifices and contributions made by Kashmiris to Pakistan’s development. She announced that if elected, a PML-N government in AJK would provide 10 modern electric buses to Mirpur and reiterated Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to establish an international standard airport in the city. "Nawaz Sharif has a history of fulfilling his promises," she said. Maryam said AJK also needed welfare initiatives similar to those introduced in Punjab, including modern hospitals, free medicines provided to households, transport projects, ration cards and social protection programmes. Without naming PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, she criticized political parties who, she said, made lofty promises during election campaigns but shifted responsibility for solving public issues to the federal government once in office.
