Future of Pakistan closely linked to resolution of Kashmir dispute; Gilani
BAGH, AJK, Jun 22 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday said the future of Pakistan was closely linked with the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and assured complete political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris till their complete freedom.Addressing a huge public gathering here Gilani said the people of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were two bodies and one soul in real terms having complete understanding on religious, cultural, ethnic, historical and geographical commonalities.The meeting place was decorated with party flags, huge banners and pictures of the President, Prime Minister and local leaders of the party, who cheered and raised slogans in favour of the party leaders.
Terming the Kashmiris and the people of Pakistan as an integral part of each other, Gilani said resolution of the Kashmir dispute was at the core of the creation of Pakistan Peoples Party.
 He said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of the party as he had differences with General Ayub Khan on the issue of Kashmir and said the dispute led to the creation of the party.
 Gilani recalled that Shaheed Bhutto vowed a thousand year war to liberate Kashmir.
 He said the people of Pakistan were fully aware of the problems and the difficulties of the Kashmiris living across the line of control and reiterated that Pakistan would continue its political and diplomatic support till their complete freedom.
 Prime Minister Gilani said the successful policies of the government have improved the lives of millions, and particularly of those who are at the grassroots level.
 He said the party that has a long history of forty years in politics has been successfully participating at the national political scene and has also met a resounding success in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Gilani spelt out in detail the measures taken by the party leadership and said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had taken numerous landmark measures to bring about a positive change in the lives of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
 He recalled that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council and the Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly have the powers to legislate their own laws and take important decisions about their day to day affairs.
 The Prime Minister mentioned the easing of rules for the issuance of National Identity Cards and Passports for the residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the two per cent quota for its employees in Federal government, national pay scales and seats for students from Neelum, and Leepa valley.
 He said Shaheed Bhutto also set up the Special Communications Organisation (SCO) for communication linkage of the far off areas, besides seeking support of World Bank, World Food Program etc to launch development programs in the area.
 Prime Minister Gilani said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto also introduced primary health system in AJK while Shaheed Benazir Bhutto internationalised the Kashmir issue and urged for its early resolution.
 He said the Pakistan Peoples Party was deeply integrated with the people of Kashmir. He recalled an address of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in which she asked India to stop the chain of atrocities in the held valley, release the political prisoners and end human rights violations, as with these ongoing practices there can be no meaningful resolution of the dispute.
 Prime Minister Gilani said the Shaheed leader desired to bring about a positive change but some people were against her and did not want her to go ahead with her wishes.
 Prime Minister Gilani said the government and people of Pakistan were one in fighting terrorism and vowed to do all to eliminate the scourge.
 He said he would not announce any development scheme and project for the area, as it would give an excuse to the opponents that his visit was part of the election campaign.
He however assured the people that he would revisit the area after the election and extend the scope of Benazir Income Support Program, under which the government would empower the women, provide them health and life insurance and support then start their own business. He said vocational training would also be initiated to help the youth earn a respectable living.
 Prime Minister Gilani said it was the fourth PPP government that has successfully passed the national budget and said it would go a long way in the development of all those areas that were hitherto neglected.
 Gilani thanked the large gathering and termed it a referendum that speaks volumes about the popularity of the party in Azad Kashmir.
 The event was addressed by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Barrister Sultan Mahmood, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr and other party leaders.
 The party leaders in their address lauded the people for coming from far off places to join their leaders and expressed the hope that they would enthusiastically participate in the AJK election and succeed the party.
 They said the Pakistan Peoples Party would win the election because of its successful policies both at domestic and international fronts and brought the country back from the brink of an economic collapse.