ISLAMABAD - The governing body of the AJK chapter of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to end rifts and factions within the party by giving all stakeholders due status and position.

The first meeting of the governing body that met under the chair of PTI president of its Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) chapter and senior minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan here in Islamabad also decided that the party would be re-organised at the grassroots level in the region.

“I do not believe in politics in factions within the party, all stakeholders will be given due respect, status and position in the party. Furthermore, respect and dignity of the party workers will be ensured,” the senior minister said while addressing the meeting at PTI AJK’s Central Public Secretariat. PTI will be properly organised with determination and vigour in both Azad Kashmir and refugee constituencies, said Central Information Secretary of PTI in AJK Ershad Mehmud while quoting Ilyas.

All stakeholders will be given due respect, status and position in party

PTI president hoped that soon the party would be the biggest grass-root political party in the region. “People have voted for PTI in the region because of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s slogan of accountability, transparency and justice,” he said. He said that all decisions would be made in consultation with party’s 13-member governing body and the gap between the government and the party will be bridged. The meeting expressed heartfelt sorrow over demise of the veteran leader of Kashmir liberation movement Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The governing body reiterated solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and said that the people of Azad Kashmir and the PTI government would continue their struggle for the right of their self-determination on every national and international forum. 

The members of the governing body unanimously thanked PM Imran Khan, party’s Chief Organizer Senator Saifullah Khan Nyazee and Secretary General Aamir Mehmood Kiyani for their trust and for assigning them central positions to lead the party. Last week, Chief Organizer PTI Senator Nyazee through a notification had appointed Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan as the president of PTI of its AJK chapter while reconstituting the entire 13-mmber governing body of the party in the region. The decision was taken after PTI formed its government in the region as a result of its victory in July 25 elections of AJK Legislative Assembly. 

The governing body vowed that the PTI government would fulfil the promises made to the citizens and make it effective by amending the Accountability Act to bring real change in the region. Additionally, they ensured that the local bodies elections will be held soon which empower local communities particularly youth and women. To ensure the supremacy of merit, all major decisions will be reviewed that were taken against merit, the central secretary information informed The Nation. 

It was agreed at the meeting that the governing body will hold regular meetings to organize the party at the grass-root level, and to run the government following the party manifesto and policy. It would also strengthen the relationship between the party and the government. The meeting unanimously declared the Central Public Secretariat as party’s headquarter.  

Addressing the meeting, senior vice president PTI of AJK chapter Zafar Anwar said that people have high expectations from the PTI government. The party and the government will have to work day and night to meet those expectations. Vice president PTI and minister in AJK government Azhar Sadiq said that the doors of his ministry would always be open for the party workers and the government would be run in the light of the advice of party’s functionaries. Raja Mansoor Khan, a member of the body, said that government ministers and advisers have to accompany party workers and officials so that there is no gap between the party and the government. Atiq Mir, another member, said that development work should be done with the consultations of the party ticket holders and they should also be involved in the decision-making process.

Information Secretary Ershad Mahmud in his remarks said that they should expedite efforts to get a big economic package from the federal government so that a few vital development projects could be launched. A committee of prominent and professional personalities should be formed to restructure the administrative, economic and legal structure of AJK as its existing administrative structure is devouring all the resources and produces nothing substantial, he added.