Story of AJK's separation from Pakistan based on distortion, clarifies AJK PM

ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Monday once again clarified his statement which allegedly said that he is considering AJK’s accession to another country after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification, ARY News reported.

Addressing a press conference, the AJK prime minister took a swipe at Jang Group for publishing a false statement attributed to him that Kashmir was contemplating its accession to another country following the Sharif’s disqualification.

He said that the news story published in the group’s Urdu daily was distortion of his statement. He asked the media not to jeopardize the cause of Kashmir in their battle. The relations between Pakistan, AJK and India held Kashmir were very strong, he said and added that by engaging in such propaganda campaigns, India was being provided an opportunity to speak against Pakistan

Farooq said the fallacious story had deeply hurt his sentiments. The newspaper should have at lest ascertained the facts before sending it into print, he added.

While addressing a presser a day before, he said that he cannot even think of AJK’s separation from Pakistan as “Our hearts beat with Pakistanis and I will still stand behind my words.”

Farooq said his entire presser was about the Supreme Court’s verdict with regard to Nawaz’s disqualification. “I condemn the impression which given was to my statement and the way it was presented,” he added. The video of his press conference is available which shows his statement has been distorted in the report.

The future of Kashmiris is linked with Pakistan’s prosperity,” Farooq asserted.