With political tensions heating up between the ruling PML-N and its coalition partner, the PPP, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday sought to defuse the situation, saying political differences among rivals were common during elections but should never descend into personal animosity.

Addressing a party convention in Murree, the PML-N president congratulated the winners of the recent elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), while offering his condolences to the defeated candidates and urging them to examine the factors that led to their loss in the region.

Nawaz also expressed disappointment over the recent developments, noting that complaints from the PPP had been “upsetting”.

“We have always maintained cordial relations with our political opponents. Differences are part of politics, particularly during elections, but they should not reach a point where they breed animosity,” he said. “That is not appropriate.”

He said the PML-N had run a strong campaign amid intense competition but had not expected complaints from the PPP, which governs AJK.

He said the political atmosphere in AJK had traditionally been cordial and should not be allowed to deteriorate.

Nawaz also expressed disappointment over the defeat of some PML-N candidates, saying the party had fielded strong candidates who had contested the elections with courage.

“We may lose a seat, but we will not lose our courage, God willing,” he said, adding that the party should examine the reasons behind the defeats.

He noted that the AJK elections were being held in three stages and said the third phase had yet to be completed, while the PML-N had secured a majority in the first two phases.

“This is a great blessing from God. We are very grateful that the people have once again placed their trust in us,” he said.

Nawaz, however, stressed that the party now had a responsibility to honour that trust.

“God forbid, if despite winning the first two rounds we fail to deliver, I think the people of Azad Kashmir will be upset. Their anger would be justified, and we need to look at the matter ourselves,” he said.

He called for accelerated development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), urging the federal government to provide the region with maximum possible funds for roads, hospitals, employment, tourism and agriculture.

The former prime minister said successive governments had failed to fulfil their responsibilities and meet the aspirations of the people, regardless of their political affiliation.

“Successive governments have not been able to fulfil their responsibilities or meet the aspirations and wishes of the people, regardless of which party they support,” he said.

Nawaz said the people of AJK deserved the same pace of development being witnessed in Punjab, where, he said, the foundations for development had been laid during the tenure of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and were now being advanced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

He said improving the lives of people in AJK and resolving their problems should be the government’s foremost responsibility.

“Our first duty should be to fulfil the trust placed in us by the people,” Nawaz said, warning that failure to deliver on the promises made during the first two rounds of the election would leave voters disappointed.

“If we fail to deliver on the victory we have secured, the people of Azad Kashmir will be upset, and their anger would be justified,” he said, adding that the PML-N needed to “look at the matter honestly” and address the reasons behind any public discontent.

Nawaz calls for Punjab-like development in AJK

Nawaz urged PM Shehbaz, who was also present at the gathering, to allocate maximum funds for AJK so that roads and hospitals could be built and employment opportunities created.

He called for greater investment in tourism and the establishment of industries, while stressing the need to give agriculture “full attention”.

He suggested extending to AJK schemes similar to those being implemented in Punjab, including agricultural loans, housing finance and other initiatives aimed at helping people improve their livelihoods.

“People want to see roads like those in Punjab being built here in Azad Kashmir. They want hospitals, laptops and scholarships for their children, as well as farmer cards and employment opportunities,” he said.

Nawaz said AJK should not lag behind any province in terms of development and expressed his desire to see the region reach the level of development achieved in Punjab.

He also urged the federal government to revive projects proposed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for AJK.

Among other proposals, he called for extending the highway from Islamabad and Murree to Muzaffarabad and said a proposed rail link from Rawalpindi-Islamabad to Murree could eventually be extended towards Muzaffarabad.

Nawaz also asked the prime minister to provide a helicopter to the AJK government, saying the mountainous terrain made it difficult for officials to travel to remote areas.

“Because this is a mountainous region, reaching every area is extremely difficult. A helicopter would enable the prime minister and the government to reach people, inspect development schemes and determine whether our agenda is being implemented,” he said.

Nawaz congratulated PML-N leaders and workers who participated in the AJK election campaign, particularly Ameer Muqam and Rana Sanaullah, saying they had worked tirelessly and travelled to areas where reaching voters was difficult.

He stressed that the formation of the AJK cabinet should be based on merit, integrity and honesty.

“The cabinet should be formed purely on merit, integrity and honesty. This is extremely important,” he said, adding that he would personally oversee the process and would also ask PM Shehbaz to monitor it.

The PML-N supremo also praised the prime minister’s efforts to improve the country’s economic situation, saying Pakistan was moving forward rather than backwards.

He claimed that during his tenure as prime minister, the rupee-dollar exchange rate had remained around Rs104 and said the currency had subsequently depreciated significantly.

Nawaz said he did not want to engage in criticism of previous governments but maintained that the condition of the country at that time had been unprecedented in his experience.

He said the situation had improved after Shehbaz became prime minister and expressed hope that Pakistan would soon overcome its economic difficulties.

He said the government was working to make Pakistan economically self-sufficient and eventually free it from dependence on the International Monetary Fund.

Reiterating his commitment to the promises made during the AJK election campaign, he said he would extend full cooperation to the regional government. “I will try to fulfil the promises I made during the election campaign and will fully cooperate with the government here,” he said.

He added that his objective was to see “a new Azad Kashmir” emerge through sustained development and better public services.