MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said he still adhered to the Charter of Democracy (CoD). However, he termed those as incurable who were in a bid to part ways from the agreement. “Being the signatory of the Charter of Democracy, I am still firm on it. However, if someone pursues the policy of denial, then there is no remedy for their approach,” he said in his remarks at the 53rd budget session of the Kashmir Council here.
“We want to take along all the parties. Democracy means tolerance for others. Therefore, we will have to tolerate positive criticism because any home or family cannot run without tolerance,” he added. “CPEC is an ideal project for national development,” he said adding the projects his government has launched were unparalleled and unprecedented in the history of the country because they served every segment of society. “We want realization of our incomplete dreams. People can make investments in the energy sector here. Network of motorways and roads is being laid all across the country.”
The Charter of Democracy was signed in May 2006 by Nawaz Sharif and then-Pakistan People’s Party’s chairperson Benazir Bhutto for the restoration and strengthening of democracy in the country. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said tolerance and mutual understanding was the basis of democracy, which his party was following in letter and spirit.
He said Pakistan Muslim League-N believed in running the affairs of the government with mutual understanding with other political parties, adding the governments in Balochistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan were examples to the fact. He said PML-N received an overwhelming mandate by the people of AJK and urged the elected members of the Legislative Assembly to come up to the expectations of their voters who reposed confidence in them. The prime minister said the government was steadfast in achieving its objectives of development in the country and would fulfill its commitment with nation of ending power loadshedding by 2018. He said there existed immense potential in AJK for setting up hydro-electric plants due to availability of abundant water resources.
He invited the local people to invest in power projects in AJK and assured support by the federal government. Nawaz said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was an exemplary project which would bring positive outcome for Pakistan in diverse sectors.
Nawaz Sharif on Thursday also administered oath to two newly-elected members of the Kashmir Council. Abdul Khaliq Wasi and Chaudhry Muhammad Siddiq took oath of their office at the 53rd budget session of Kashmir Council. Azad Jammu Kashmir President Masood Khan was also present. Earlier, fateha was offered for the Kashmiri martyrs.
Nawaz Sharif was attending the 53rd budget session of the Kashmir Council. Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Barjees Tahir, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir and Senator Pervaiz Rasheed accompanied the prime minister.
Nawaz Sharif on Thursday also inspected the bullet-ridden civilian bus in which nine passengers were killed as they were targeted by the Indian armed forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on November 23. The Indian army targeted the civilian bus in Neelum valley near Dhudnial on November 23. The unprovoked attack also injured nine passengers.
The prime minister was accompanied by Prime Minister Azad Jammu Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider and President AJK Masood Khan. He also met the injured driver of the bus. Pakistan had strongly protested against the attack and Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh was summoned and handed over the demarche on the unprovoked ceasefire violation. Pakistan said the Indian army “intentionally targeted” the civilian bus, resulting in martyrdom of nine innocent civilians and injuries to nine others.
Pakistan pointed that “deliberate targeting” of civilian populated areas, villages, ambulances and civilian transport was deplorable and below human dignity. The Indian army also targeted an ambulance which was shifting the injured passengers in a blatant violation of international humanitarian laws. Pakistan has repeatedly asked India to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and stop targeting the villages and civilians along the LoC.
