MUZAFFARABAD: The Muslim Conference (MC), once a dominant political force in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Monday announced that it would field candidates in all 45 constituencies in the upcoming general elections. The announcement came during the party’s ‘Kashmir Banega Pakistan’ convention in Muzaffarabad.
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Addressing the gathering, MC president and former AJK premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said the party would contest elections with “full strength, preparation and commitment,” aiming to restore its relevance in the region. He described the MC as a guarantor of the dignity of future generations and stressed its continued unconditional commitment to Pakistan.
The Muslim Conference had held power multiple times before 2011, but its influence waned with the rise of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the region. In 2011, the party was reduced to three seats, and in the last two elections, it secured only one seat, won by Sardar Attique from Bagh district. Recent defections, including that of Saqib Majeed to the PML-N, were acknowledged but did not deter the party’s resolve.
Sardar Attique also reaffirmed his support for Pakistan’s military role in politics, citing Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos as evidence of the country’s defensive capabilities. He described the slogan “Kashmir Banega Pakistan” not just as a political statement but as a guarantee of South Asia’s secure future, emphasizing the sacrifices of martyrs in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
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He further warned that instability in AJK is fueled by foreign conspiracies and that the idea of an independent Kashmir would jeopardize regional stability. The convention was attended by senior MC leaders, including former president Mirza Muhammad Shafiq Jarral and Secretary General Mehrun Nisa, who also addressed party supporters.