PML-N has once again made it clear that it fully supports the rights of Kashmiris who vote through refugee seats. State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani delivered this strong message on Friday while addressing several corner meetings in Dina, Dhanyala, Kashmir Colony and Chotala.
He was campaigning for party candidates Raja Siddique from LA-39 Jammu-VI and Syed Shaukat Shah from LA-42 Valley-III. Kayani told the gatherings that the PML-N will always stand with the people who elect their representatives from refugee constituencies. He stressed that democratic representation for these voters in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly remains a core priority for the party.
The minister also noted that people in Mirpur Division have already shown clear trust in the PML-N. He said this public support is something the Pakistan Peoples Party finds hard to accept. Kayani went further and criticised the PPP’s performance in Karachi, pointing out the poor condition of sewerage systems, water supply and roads under their rule. He added that the people and business community of Karachi deserve far better services and governance.
Looking ahead to the second phase of the AJK polls on August 2, Kayani expressed full confidence that the PML-N will win every refugee constituency as well as the seats across Muzaffarabad Division. Election campaigning for this phase ends at midnight on Friday, with voting scheduled for Sunday.
In the Muzaffarabad Division, nine constituencies covering the districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Jhelum Valley will go to the polls, along with 12 refugee seats. A total of 208 candidates are in the race for the nine local seats. The AJK Election Commission has registered 890,621 voters in the division, including 427,955 men and 381,666 women. To make voting easy, 1,483 polling stations have been set up, with the largest number in Muzaffarabad district.
Kayani’s statements show the party’s continued focus on both the rights of refugee voters and its determination to perform well in the upcoming AJK polls.
