Passban-e-Watan Pakistan to Launch Campaign and Registration in Muzaffarabad, Advocates for Presidential and District System Reforms in Azad Kashmir**
Passban-e-Watan Pakistan has announced plans to initiate a campaign and registration drive in Muzaffarabad next month aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in Azad Kashmir. The party’s leadership emphasized the need to empower the common people and push for the implementation of a presidential system along with robust district and municipal governance structures to facilitate development and stability in the region.
During a media interaction, Chairman Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmed and President Tahir Khokhar highlighted their party’s growing popularity in Pakistan and outlined their strategic focus on Azad Kashmir. They pointed out the current political ambiguity in the region, where multiple parties appear to hold overlapping powers and responsibilities. They criticized the existing governance framework, which involves 10 districts and 45 ministers, describing it as a burden on the people and an obstacle to effective administration.
The leaders argued that the current system in Azad Kashmir has failed, and a shift towards a presidential system, as proposed by their party, is essential for progress. They stressed that empowering a presidential and district-based governance structure would be a symbol of development and good governance. They also called for cooperation with the Action Committee—a body actively involved in addressing regional issues—urging them to join efforts for better public service delivery and economic reforms.
Furthermore, the party leaders pointed to the lack of industrial development in Azad Kashmir and urged external Kashmiri investors to consider investing in the region. They maintained that the existing system’s shortcomings could be remedied through structural reforms, which would include strengthening institutions rather than engaging in confrontational activities against them. Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad emphasized that their party is committed to addressing regional issues comprehensively, beyond political disagreements, and aims to bring a positive change through dialogue and practical measures.
The leadership also reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining continuous engagement with the public, claiming that over a thousand members are already affiliated with the party in Azad Kashmir. They assured that registration proceedings for the party would be completed within days. The leaders reiterated their readiness to undertake regional development projects by collaborating with regional authorities and the Action Committee, advocating for a governance overhaul aligned with the contemporary needs of Azad Kashmir.
Concluding, Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad expressed their unwavering commitment to Kashmir’s cause, emphasizing their willingness to go beyond boundaries to resolve regional issues. He called for the implementation of a presidential system, strengthening of local governments, and a unified approach to catalyze progress and stability in Azad Kashmir. The proposed reforms are aimed at creating a transparent, accountable, and development-oriented administration to benefit the region’s population.
