Sardar Atiq Khan, former PM of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, expresses gratitude
for the relief and rehabilitation work in the wake of 2005 earthquake in Pakistan
By Umer Nangiana
Former prime minister of the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Pakistani side of Kashmir, Sardar Atiq Khan, has lauded Qatar Charity (QC) for its extensive support to the people of earthquake-hit areas of his state and other parts of Pakistan during the devastating calamity in 2005.
During his recent visit to Doha, he took the opportunity to personally thank the charity organisation for its role as one of the major partners in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process of the affected areas besides providing emergency relief.
Khan said he was the prime minister of AJK then and knows the crucial role played by QC in the aftermath of the natural disaster. “Some of the development projects for health and education that they (QC) had initiated and funded in parts of AJK are still up and running. I personally wanted to thank them as I was the prime minister then and I am visiting Qatar for the first time since then,” said Khan, talking to media representatives in Doha recently.
The 2005 earthquake, the worst in the history of Pakistan, had flattened the AJK capital Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas of now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), killing thousands of people and demolishing infrastructure, leaving millions homeless.
“Alongside other humanitarian organisations from other parts of world, QC took a big part in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process of the earthquake-hit areas of AJK and KP. Being the then PM, I know how valuable was their support to us,” added Khan.
“They generously funded the projects on education, healthcare, sanitation and infrastructure building and some of these projects are still running, providing assistance to the people of AJK,” said the former PM.
Khan, who has been twice elected as prime minister of AJK, said his visit to Qatar has been a pleasant experience as he has been meeting friends and members of the Kashmiri community here.
Speaking about the Gulf, Khan said the Yemen-crisis could potentially destabilise the entire region if a resolution is not found quickly. Pakistan, he said, should stand with its all-weather friend Saudi Arabia as the latter has always helped Pakistan in the time of need. He said the security of Saudi Arabia and that of Harmain Shareefain (The Holy Mosques) was very dear to every Muslim.
He said world bodies and organisations like the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) should have immediately got together to find a peaceful resolution to the problem. “The people of Pakistan and AJK hold Saudi friendship very close to their heart and would always come up to defend Saudi’s territorial sovereignty,” said Khan.
“At the same time, we need to keep in mind that relationship with one country should not be at the cost of another. We should firmly stand with Saudis. There should be no doubt about it. But we also expect from our friends that they would not put Pakistan through any trial,” said the former AJK premier. He added that our friends should also keep in mind the difficult situation that Pakistan is going through.
Speaking about the Kashmir problem, he said no solution was possible without the participation of the people of Kashmir as a party in the process. He, however, urged both India and Pakistan to carry forward the peace process and negotiations for the resolution of the issue.
“The people of Kashmir want a peaceful solution to the problem. They do not want war or violence,” said Khan.
“The resolution of Kashmir issue is vital for the stability in South Asia which, subsequently, is important for the world at large. With more parties becoming indirect stakeholders in the resolution of the issue, such as the world powers and the United Nations, I see a window of opportunity for the concerned parties to find a peaceful resolution of the issue,” he added.
MAKING A POINT: Former PM of AJK Sardar Atiq Khan addressing the media in Doha.
