KOTLI, Islamabad Today Report: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Sunday said that the massive and enthusiastic public receptions accorded to him at various locations, including Charhoi, were a clear reflection of public confidence in the democratic system, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the leadership of PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin.
Addressing a large public gathering in Charhoi, the prime minister said political stability had been restored across Azad Kashmir and that the people had reaffirmed their trust in the PPP leadership, including party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He said the PPP assumed responsibility at a critical time and took difficult but necessary decisions to prevent political instability and ensure continuity of the system.
Rathore said that within just two months, the government had initiated several long-pending reforms and development measures. These include progress toward declaring Kashmir Bank a scheduled bank, the launch of a health card scheme across AJK, establishment of separate education boards in all three divisions, and a significant reduction in property tax rates. He said all decisions were aimed at providing immediate relief to the public.
The prime minister stated that all demands raised by the Joint Action Committee had been accepted and implemented without delay, adding that the government would not tolerate further postponement in resolving public issues. He emphasized that political stability was essential for the state and that concrete steps were being taken to secure a better future for the youth.
Highlighting the party’s ideology, he said the PPP had a deep, enduring relationship with Pakistan and Kashmir. He described the current setup as a transitional phase and said the party would seek a renewed public mandate in the 2026 elections based on its performance. He also paid tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces for enhancing national pride and effectively projecting the Kashmir issue at the international level.
During his address, Rathore announced several development initiatives for Charhoi, including feasibility studies for THQ Chowk Sahibaan and the Charhoi Grid Station, an education package, establishment of a university campus, upgradation of educational institutions, elevation of BHU Jona and Rajdhani to Rural Health Centre status, rehabilitation of the Jona–Dongi Road, and a feasibility report for a Kotli University campus in Charhoi.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, addressing the gathering, said his association with Charhoi was deeply personal. He reaffirmed PPP’s historic commitment to the Kashmir cause, recalling that the party was founded by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with Kashmir at its core. He praised the people of Charhoi for their consistent support of PPP and Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin despite challenging political conditions.
PPP Secretary General Humayun Khan said Azad Kashmir had always remained a stronghold of the PPP. PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin described Charhoi as a constituency of committed party workers and said the party’s development work far exceeded that of its political rivals.
Other speakers, including AJK Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed, Ministers Chaudhry Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, Chaudhry Aamir Yasin, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, and Chaudhry Muhammad Rafiq Nayyar, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to public welfare, transparency, and improvements in health, education, and basic services.
The session was presided over by Professor Muhammad Raja Fayaz Khan, who stressed the importance of accessible healthcare in rural areas. A large number of party leaders, workers, and citizens attended the gathering.
