President calls for negotiated settlement of AJK issues

President Asif Ali Zardari has urged all the stakeholders to exercise restraint and resolve the issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue and mutual consultation. He was talking to a delegation of members of the AJK Legislative Assembly belonging to Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians who called on him in Islamabad on Sunday. The President said political parties, state institutions and the people of AJK should act responsibly so that hostile elements could not exploit the situation to their benefit. The delegation briefed the President about recent happenings and unfortunate developments in AJK. Talking to members of the AJK Legislative Assembly, the President highlighted that the demands of the people of AJK should be addressed as per law. He said that he would take up the grievances of the people of AJK with the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to find a way out of the current situation. The President emphasized that priority should be accorded to the socio-economic uplift of AJK, with speci al focus on the development of health, education, tourism and infrastructure. He underlined the need to bring the far-flung areas at par with other developed areas of the country. The President regretted the current situation and offered condolences over the unfortunate death of the police officer and prayed for swift recovery of all those who were injured in recent clashes. Source: Radio Pakistan