Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 29: President of Jammu and Kashmir United Movement (JKUM) and former MLA Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar has announced his unconditional support for Apni Party’s Parliamentary candidate for the Srinagar constituency, Mohammad Ashraf Mir.
Jabbar made this announcement today during a press conference , here today. Apni Party’s Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir, and Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, who is the party’s candidate for the LS polls in the Srinagar constituency, were also present in the press conference.
Ishfaq Jabbar said: “We have decided to support the candidate from the Apni Party in the Lok Sabha elections for the Srinagar constituency. This decision was made in the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I firmly believe that we must oppose the parties that have greatly harmed the interests of the people of J&K. Therefore, we will ensure that Mohammad Ashraf Mir is elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Srinagar constituency.”
Pertinently, Ishfaq Jabbar is one of the prominent political figures in Ganderbal. Like his late father, Sheikh Jabbar, who served as a Minister in Jammu and Kashmir, Ishfaq Jabbar holds vast influence over the people in the district.
Taking a dig at the NC and PDP, Ishfaq Jabbar said: “The National Conference (NC) has now openly come forward to join hands with Shiv Sena. Previously, leaders of both the NC and PDP adamantly stated that they would abstain from participating in elections until Article 370 was reinstated. However, they have suddenly forgotten their pledge and jumped into the poll fray. These parties have consistently harmed the interests of the people.”
He expressed grave concern over the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that like-minded parties need to come forward to work for the well-being of the people. “We cannot afford further deaths and destruction in this land. We have already suffered greatly. The future of traditional leaders and their children is secure; they live in London. But we need to think of the vulnerable young population here. Look at the drug menace. We cannot afford to watch this situation as silent spectators. We need to work for the peace and prosperity here,” he added.
He also demanded the establishment of a commission to ascertain the reasons for the eruption of violence in the 1990s in Jammu and Kashmir. “The infamous rigging in the 1987 Assembly elections also needs to be investigated,” he further said.
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