Prime Minister Imran Khan has agreed to contribute to the election campaign of his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by addressing a minimum of three public meetings in as many divisions of the territory.
A decision to the present effect was taken by him on Tuesday at a gathering with PTI’s regional president and former AJK prime minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood and federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Ameen Gandapur at the Prime Minister’s House, consistent with a handout issued by the party’s media cell.
From among the highest leadership of the three mainstream parties, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has already spent three days in AJK from June 25, while from Monday, he departs the second round of his public meetings which will last until July 9.
Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-chairman Maryam Nawaz Sharif is probably going to require part within the campaign of her party from Thursday (July 8) until July 19, with brief gaps in between.
Though on behalf of the PTI, its Secretary-General Aamir Kiani and federal ministers Murad Saeed and Mr. Gandapur have addressed some public meetings in Mirpur and Kotli districts, the regional leadership has been aspiring for the visits of PM Khan to spice up the morale and enthusiasm of party workers.
In Tuesday’s meeting, it had been decided that Mr. Khan would address his first public meeting on July 12 in Mirpur, from where Mr. Mahmood is contesting elections himself. On July 18, the prime minister would speak at a public meeting in Bagh city from where Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan is trying his luck while on July 23 — just two days before the polling — the prime minister would address the last public meeting of the election campaign in Muzaffarabad from where the PTI’s central joint secretary Khawaja Farooq Ahmed may be a candidate.
According to the handout, both Mr. Mahmood and Mr. Gandapur also briefed PM Khan on the campaign strategy of PTI candidates.
