Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif emphasized on Saturday that political rivalry is a natural aspect of politics, but it should never escalate into animosity. Speaking at a party gathering in Murree, which was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz expressed surprise over the Pakistan Peoples Party’s objections regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, especially since the PPP was the ruling party in the region.
He highlighted that the political climate during the AJK polls was troubling for all stakeholders, attributing the unrest to the failure of previous governments to effectively fulfill their duties. The elections, conducted in three phases, exposed a rift within the ruling coalition at the federal level, with the PML-N securing a majority of seats while the PPP accused the process of rigging. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari even declared that the federal government’s tenure was nearing its end.
“This is the first time such a political environment has developed in Azad Kashmir, which is concerning for everyone,” Nawaz remarked. He urged political adversaries to practice tolerance and confine their disagreements to democratic debate, stressing that hostility has no place in politics. He reiterated that the PML-N has always respected its political opponents and called for differences to remain civil.
After the completion of two phases of the AJK elections, the PML-N has already secured a simple majority with 24 seats, while the PPP has won 10 seats so far. The final results of the third phase are still pending. Nawaz asserted that the PML-N would form the next government in AJK and pledged to deliver on the promises made during the campaign.
He also commended the party’s leaders and workers for their successful performance in the elections. Nawaz called for increased funding for Azad Kashmir, emphasizing that the welfare and development of its residents should be a top governmental priority. He pointed out that the people of AJK look towards Punjab, where development initiatives were launched under Shehbaz Sharif and furthered by Maryam Nawaz.
“Just as we transformed Punjab, we intend to do the same in Azad Kashmir,” Nawaz declared, warning that failure to meet public expectations would result in voter disappointment. Praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he acknowledged the challenges the government faced upon taking office but noted that the situation is steadily improving. He added that efforts are underway to make Pakistan economically self-reliant and reduce dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, speaking on the occasion, praised PM Shehbaz Sharif for his magnanimity in inviting PPP to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). She criticized the PPP for making unfounded rigging allegations in AJK despite not being the majority party there. Maryam pointed out that the PPP did not raise such claims in GB constituencies where it had won, but only where it had lost.
She suggested that the people of AJK carefully considered the election manifestos and speeches before voting, rejecting those who had nothing substantial to offer. Maryam criticized the PPP’s track record on development, noting that roads remained in disrepair for 17 years under their governance and that they failed to provide adequate bus services. She also condemned the poor sanitation system and widespread garbage accumulation during PPP’s administration.
Maryam reminded critics that the PPP controlled the government, police, and administration in AJK during their tenure and urged them to apply logic before making rigging allegations. “All the key institutions in AJK were under their own control,” she said, underscoring the inconsistency in their accusations.
