MIRPUR (AJK): Apr 18 (APP) : The PTI’s nominee Sardar Tanveer Illayas was elected unopposed as the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu Kashmir in a special session of Legislative Assembly held in State metropolis on Monday.
No any other candidate filed the nomination papers for top slot of chief executive of AJK government as new leader of the house of the 53 seats legislative assembly.
llyas bagged 33 votes in the election winning the PM office unopposed. The office had fallen vacant following resignation from the office by PM Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi on April 12 to escape from the no trust motion submitted by 25 law makers of PTI in the house under serious charges of bad governance, Nepotism and malpractices.
The opposition comprising PPP and PML-N, AJK chapters, boycotted the election declaring the assembly session of Monday April 18, unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, newly elected Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas while reiterating his party’s vision to turn AJK into a self-reliant state has said that welfare of people and development was amongst his top most priorities.
In his maiden speech to the Assembly on Monday Ilyas said that government funds would be utilized for the welfare of people. Referring to his government’s action plan he said that besides initiating mega development projects in the region the government would focus on improving road infrastructure, promoting tourism and small industries.
He said that since there was a huge potential in the tourism sector the government would take all possible measures to promote tourism in the region. “Promotion of tourism would generate economic activities besides creating job opportunities for the youth”, he said adding that Ministers and secretaries will be given a target of 3 months to show their performance.
He said that Chairman PTI Imran Khan’s vision would be put into practice and the workers will be given their rightful place. Regarding the road-infrastructure, the PM said, “The government will take up the matter with the federal government for extending the Murree Expressway to Kohala and will install roadside safety barriers that will reduce accidents”.
He said that Sui Gas would be supplied to Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot.“Feasibility report regarding the laying of a railway track from Rawalpindi up to Muzaffarabad will be prepared soon”, he said, adding that the government would start its own airline through a public-private partnership.
He said that efforts would be made to create special business opportunities for women.He said that the PTI government would bring real change and transform Kashmir into a self-reliant state where the standard of living of the common man would be raised.
“We will provide quality accommodation to the refugees residing in different camps of Azad Kashmir”, he said. The PM expressed his desire to rename University of Muzaffarabad after the veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani owing to his selfless services for Kashmir cause.
Urging India to shun its traditional policy of intransigence and resolve the lingering dispute in line with wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people, the AJK PM said that India cannot deprive the Kashmiris of their basic rights for long. “Sooner or later India will have to hold a referendum in Kashmir”, he said, adding that the BJP government’s dream of a Akhand Bharat will never come true.He instructed his party workers not to be a part of any negative propaganda regarding Pakistan.
“The enemy wants to turn us against our own army”, he said, adding that it was our responsibility to foil such conspiracies. Reaffirming Kashmiris unconditional love for Pakistan, he said that Pakistan was the center of our hopes.He also condemned the blasphemous caricature by the citizens of the Netherlands and called on the United Nations to socially and diplomatically boycott countries that insult other religions.The PM on the occasion thanked the PTI leadership particularly the Party chairman Imaran Khan Secretary General Asad Umar, Ali Amin Gandapur, President AJK Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry and all members of the Assembly who Expressed confidence in his leadership.
Earlier, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas the PTI nominee and sole contender for the position of prime minister was elected unopposed as the new prime minister as no candidate had filed nomination papers against him.The election was held in the Legislative Assembly, which was presided over by Speaker Anwar ul Haq.
Ilyas the newly elected PM bagged 33 votes, while 20 members from opposition benches stayed away from the polling.
Prior to voting bells were rung in the Assembly for five minutes after which the doors of the House were closed. Later, the names of the members were called and the enumerator put their presence next to the names of the members. After the attendance, the members left the house.
The members returned to the House soon after the bells rang again.Speaker Anwar ul Haq announced the results of the election of the Leader of the House, according to which 33 members were present in the 53-member House while 20 members were absent.
All the 33 members present in the House voted in favor of Sardar Tanveer and thus he was elected unopposed as Leader of the House.
