Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday while congratulating former Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharief for his victory in National Assembly elections and reminded him of the initiative he took during his earlier premiership to restore friendship with India and resolve K-issue. He urged him to move ahead once again on this important issue positively by picking up the threads from where these had been dropped.“Today is an important day for people of Jammu and Kashmir as the elections were held in Pakistan and Mian Nawaz Sharief is emerging as victorious. I from this stage at Trikulbal Pattan, congratulate Mian Sahib on behalf of people of Jammu and Kashmir, my government and myself and hope that he would carry forward the process of restoring peace and friendship with India and work for resolving K-issue”, Omar said this while addressing a public gathering at Trikulbal, Pattan after laying foundation of a bridge.
Omar also appealed to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to extend hand of friendship to Mian Nawaz Sharief for resolving all outstanding issues including those pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir similarly as Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended friendship to the then Pak President Gen. Musharraf. He said unless friendship and peace is restored between the two countries the basic political issues cannot be solved amicably. He said the friendship between the two countries is in the larger interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir and the sub-continent.
“Guns cannot be described as good or bad guns; guns are always responsible for bleedings and killings. Let gun-culture ends once for all. Let peace prevails. Let issues are resolved amicably across the table”, he said adding “we have seen how much damage guns have caused to Pakistan. The people in Pakistan have undergone an unfortunate phase of killings and sufferings due to gun in similar way as the people of Jammu and Kashmir experienced during a long period of militancy for over 22 years”, he maintained and expressed hope that peace will prevail.
Omar said that his government has worked a lot to facilitate peace and tranquillity between India and Pakistan and would continue to work in this direction. He said without peace impact of development gets eclipsed. He said whatever goals we achieve on development front their benefits remain dormant if peace and tranquillity is not in place.
The Chief Minister said that he believes in actions rather than making slogans. “My government’s performance is before the people. Our work done on ground is our strength. People will judge us on this scale”, he said and elaborated that he would move ahead on achieving the twin goals of peace and development with commitment, determination and sincerity. “I need not publicize or talk loudly on the achievements and performance of my government. I will go on fulfilling my commitment made to people during 2008 Assembly Elections quietly till 2014 and then request public to judge us on our performance”, he said adding that when people will be satisfied with his government they will extend wholehearted support to its return in 2014 Assembly Elections.The Chief Minister earlier laid foundation of Rs. 2.54 crore bridge over Sukhnag Nallah in Trikulbal and fixed one year time frame for its completion. He announced two water supply schemes of Rs. 2.35 crore Gund Khawaja Qasim WSS and Rs. 80 lakh Hajeewera WSS to augment drinking water facilities in the area. He also announced upgradation of Trikulbal High School to Higher Secondary School and a playground for youth in the area. He said upgradation of Gund Khawaya Qasim would be examine and considered positively.
mar showered praises over the local leader and Chairman of the Coordination Committee Mohammad Ibrahim for advocating public cause and working selflessly for the betterment and development of the area.The public meeting was also addressed by Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, MLA and Provincial President NC, Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani, former Minister Abdul Rashid Shaheen and legislator Javid Ahmad Dar. Chairman Coordination Committee of the area Mohammad Ibrahim presented Spasnama (Welcome Address) and highlighted the demands of the area.