Muzaffarabad – Shoaib Mehmood:
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) at a special ceremony held at President House here on Wednesday. The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan administered the oath.
The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly Choudhary Anwar-ul-Haq, the Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Khan Ganda pur, Deputy Speaker, The AJK Chief Secretary. Inspector General of Police and secretaries to the government.
Addressing after the oath taking the newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Niazi reaffirmed his government’s resolve to ensure the rule of law and establishment of a corruption free society in Azad Kashmir. He thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on the behalf of the people of Azad Kashmir and occupied Kashmir for effectively projecting the Kashmir issue at international level. He also appreciated the efforts of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehamood Qureshi for projecting the Kashmir issue at international level in its true perspective. The Prime Minister paid glowing tributes to Pakistan Armed Forces for defending the motherland at the line of control.
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan was also sworn in as a senior most Minister of Azad Kashmir at a special ceremony held at the President House here on Wednesday. The AJK President Sardar Masood Khan administered the oath.
Earlier Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi was elected the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir at a session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly. The voting for the election for new leader of the house was held in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly here on Wednesday .
Niazi got 33 votes while his opponent Choudhary Latif Akbar received 15 votes.
Later addressing the house the Prime Minister elect Niazi elaborated the priorities of his government and assured that new government in accordance with the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan will utilize all its energies and resources for the wellbeing of the people of the state .He said provision of health facilities to the people of the state, promotion of education and development of infrastructure and communication will be the top priority of his government. He said that special emphasis would be given to provide basic facilities to the people living at the line of control. The PM said the role of opposition is very important and his government will take the opposition on board to promote political understanding to achieve the goal of development and prosperity for the people of Azad Kashmir. The PM said that supremacy of law will be established and the seats of women in the Azad Kashmir Assembly will be increased.
Referring to the Kashmir issue he said PM of Pakistan Imran Khan is the ambassador of the Kashmiri people and added that the plebiscite is the only way for the settlement the of Kashmir dispute and made it clear that no other formula is under consideration in this regard.
He thanked Imran Khan, Saifulllah Niazi, Minister for Kashmir Affairs, President of PTI Azad Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mehamood Choudhary and other members of PTI for reposing confidence in him .
