Shehbaz Sharif’s administration in Pakistan and the Congress-National Conference alliance share a similar stance on reinstating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, their Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said. His comments come as the region approaches its first Assembly elections since the revocation of its special status in 2019.
In an interview with Geo News, Asif mentioned a “strong possibility” that the Congress-National Conference coalition might win the elections and form a government in the Union Territory.
“The alliance has made the restoration of Article 370 a key election issue. Pakistan and the Congress-National Conference alliance are aligned on reinstating Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.”
While the National Conference has pledged to work towards restoring Article 370, the Congress has remained silent on the issue, not addressing it in their manifesto. However, the Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring full statehood.
Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference’s position on Kashmir!
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk on Geo News says, “Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to… pic.twitter.com/ObeXJEGu2u
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 19, 2024
Congress Manifesto
The manifesto said it is the Congress’s “sacred duty” to fight “divisive forces.” For doing that, the party has no problem cooperating with like-minded political parties.
In the manifesto, the party neither supported the abrogation of Article 370 nor backed its restoration. However, it promised to re-establish the Legislative Council, which was abolished after the abrogation of Article 370. It vowed to hold panchayat and urban bodies elections under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments.
The Congress promised to provide inclusive and accountable governance. They pledged to restore the 149-year-old practice of shuttling government offices between Srinagar and Jammu cities every six months. It vowed to give preference to domiciled citizens of J&K for government jobs. The party also promises to bring a white paper on corruption and set up Lokayukta within the first 100 days of coming to power.
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