ISLAMABAD: PPPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman on Monday called for the resignation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider following his statement pertaining to the annexation of AJK in the aftermath of Nawaz Sharif’s ouster.
On the other hand, another PPP Senator Sehar Kamran submitted an adjournment motion (AM) in the Senate over the recent remarks by Farooq Haider.
Sherry Rehman said, “It was shocking to hear such a statement coming from the PM of AJK. His loyalty should be with Pakistan and the people of AJK. Questioning AJK’s allegiance to Pakistan over partisan loyalty to PML-N is unacceptable”.
The AJK PM made his comments while addressing a joint press conference with the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister the other day. “The PM of AJK has lost his standing to stay in office for questioning AJK’s allegiance to Pakistan. His comment was irresponsible and has made a mockery of his office and the struggle of the Kashmiri people. He must resign immediately,” concluded the senator.
Senator Sehar Kamran said that after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif “they will have to consider now to which country they will accede”. She said such a statement made by the prime minister of AJK immediately in the aftermath of Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme Court mocks the sacrifices rendered by the people of Kashmir who, till date, were striving for accession to Pakistan. “This issue was also of vital significance for Pakistan’s national interests.”
She called for an immediate resignation of AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider following his statement and said that at the current stage, the AJK PM’s statement carried great international importance, as the atrocities committed by the Indian armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir were at an all-time high.
Kashmiri people were looking towards Pakistan for moral support, she said, adding that it was unfortunate that such controversial statements were being given by the top official of AJK just to prove their political allegiance to the former PM.
Senator Sehar Kamran said that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had given countless sacrifices for their right to join Pakistan. The loyalty of its representatives should not belong to an individual but to the state of Pakistan because of which “you have been elevated to the status of prime minister”, she added.
Published in Daily Times, August 1st , 2017.
