Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday declared that the relationship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan was anchored in a shared ideology, asserting that a “prosperous and stable Pakistan” remained the essential precursor to the liberation of the occupied territory.
The premier used the occasion to reiterate the state’s alignment with Pakistan while also highlighting what he described as his government’s developmental “crusade.”
Reflecting on the events of May last year, Mr Rathore paid glowing tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces. He said
India had attempted to destabilise the region through a “conspiracy built on a narrative of lies.”
“Last May, the forces of falsehood were defeated by the forces of truth,” he told the cheering crowd. “In that critical hour, Pakistan created history by thwarting Indian designs, and today, Pakistan’s prestige stands higher than ever on the global diplomatic stage.”
He added that the sacrifices of martyrs and their families would remain an indelible part of the state’s history.
The visit was marked by an emotional milestone as the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Chhatar Dhara Bridge, a project originally announced by his late father, former prime minister Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, in 1990.
For 36 years, the project remained in limbo, becoming a symbol of administrative stagnation. By initiating its construction, Mr Rathore sought to signal a departure from what he called the “broken promises” of the past. He also promised the inclusion of the Seri and Swanaj bridges in the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Responding to critics, the AJK premier said that while the first seven months of any government were typically a “honeymoon period,” his administration had spent that time “restoring public faith in a broken system.”
“When we took the reins, the public had lost all confidence in the state machinery,” he claimed. “We have spent our energy regularising ad-hoc employees, streamlining selection boards, and ensuring that development funds actually reach the ground.”
He framed his political struggle not as a quest for power but as a “war against poverty and deprivation,” vowing that if given a full two-year window, his government would utilise state resources to ensure that the dividends of development reached the common man.
“We are not going anywhere; we are coming back with a mission to serve,” he added.
The event also turned into a display of political unity, as it was addressed by former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, former minister Sardar Qamar-uz-Zaman, his son and minister for communications Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, adviser Ahmed Saghir and several others.
Earlier, during a vehicular rally from Bagh to Rehra, slogans in favour of the armed forces and the state’s accession to Pakistan dominated the atmosphere. The prime minister noted that the warm reception he received — including being showered with petals in large quantities during a recent visit to Samahni — was a mandate for his “mission of service” stretching from Taobat to Bhimber.
Tariq Naqash
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