Terming Mehbooba Mufti as best choice of Peoples Democratic Party for Chief Ministers post, Senior PDP leader, Member Legislative Assembly Darhal and Former Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has said that Mehbooba is enough capable to run state affairs and she has already proved her leadership in the party.Addressing jam packed workers meeting at Dak Banglow Rajouri organised to pay tribute to Late Mufti Mohammad Sayed, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that Mehbooba Mufti has proved her mettle in strengthening party who already is known as icon for swamping victory of the party in recent elections. He said that although void created due to Mufti’s departure could not be filled, the leadership qualities and visionary approach of Mehbooba Mufti made her first choice of the state for the post of Chief Ministership. He said that she can well run the affairs of the state and she knows better how to realize the pending dreams of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He added that she is having great vision for this state and even Mufti Mohammad Sayeed used to consult Mehbooba Mufti on certain issues of public importance. He said that Mufti had expressed full faith on Mehbooba only because of her visionary approach and leadership qualities.
Paying rich homage to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has said that Mufti had given Pir Panjal area biggest ever gifts in the shape of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Mughal Road for which he will be remembered in the area forever. He said that when people of the area were demanding opening of Primary School, Mufti opened Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University which was only a dream for the people of Rajouri Poonch. He said that it was his great love for the region that during 36 months of his first term as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005, he visited 27 times to Rajouri to take the stock of the activities he had started to uplift the area. He said that Mufti tried a lot to bring then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Rajouri and get this University inaugurated by his hands however due to certain conditions, it could not happened. He added that it was love of Mufti for this institution that he choose non resident of Jammu & Kashmir as Vice Chancellor and announced establishment of 3 Nursing Colleges in Jammu, Rajouri and Kishtwar which were dreams of Mufti Sahib.
Terming Mughal Road a link of love between Pir Panjal and Kashmir, Zulfkar said that opening of Mughal Road was not less than a portal of life for the people of this region who were brought close to Kashmir valley. He said that this road was also a dream but Mufti get it realized. He added that now Mufti had planned to connect Poonch with Kashmir in his 2nd term as Chief Minister and for the same he laid foundation stone of Loran Gulmarg 42 kilometer road.Remembering Mufti for his vibrant approach, Zulfkar said that it was great vision of Mufti to raise voice for peace and friendship of India and Pakistan as he knows that relations between these two neighbourers directly affects people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that he was the person who invited then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Kashmir where he extended hands of friendship to Pakistan which was great breakthrough in the process of peace and stability in the sub continent . He added that opening of Poonch Rawalkote and Uri Muzaferabad routes were brain child of Mufti sahib.
Former Minister has said that with the Mufti’s departure they are feeling politically orphan but workers must strengthened hands of Ms. Mehbooba Mufti who had also played significant role in the development of Rajouri Poonch. He added that he is hopeful that focus on the area will be continued and all pending dreams of Mufti will be realized in future.Others who spoke on the occasion to pay homage to Mufti included Party’s Pir Panjal Chief Coordinator Shahzad Khan, District President Ajaz Mirza, Former District President Abdul Qayoom Dar, Senior leaders Fazal Chouhan, Tahir Lone, Manzoor Bukhari, Choudhary Mir Hussain, Choudhary Mohammad Qasim, Choudhary Shabir, Manaf Malik, Zubair Shah, Wajid Shah, Masood Ahmed and Abdul Aziz Choudhary beside others.