ABBOTTABAD: Newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly member Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi has said the people of Pakistan and Kashmir are united by shared bonds and that the concerns of communities living on both sides of the Jhelum River should receive greater attention from the authorities.
Speaking at a reception held in his honour at Bakot Sharif in Circle Bakot, Abbasi, who was elected from LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III, said people in Azad Kashmir and Circle Bakot were connected by strong social, cultural and familial ties.
“Whether it is Azad Kashmir or Circle Bakot, we are all one. Pakistan is also ours, and Kashmir is also ours,” he said.
Focus on Local Issues
Abbasi said the people of Azad Kashmir had exercised their right to vote under difficult circumstances and that the recent electoral phase had now been completed.
He said he would raise the problems faced by communities living along the Jhelum River between Kohala and Muzaffarabad through the relevant assembly forums, while also seeking the attention of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments.
He emphasised the need for greater coordination to address infrastructure and other issues affecting communities in the region.
Bridges Between Bakot and Maulia
During the gathering, Abbasi announced the restoration of adjoining bridges connecting Bakot and Maulia across Kohala and Barsala, saying the initiative would make travel easier for local residents.
He also spoke to young people about the importance of education and hard work, encouraging them to remain focused on their studies despite difficult circumstances.
Recalling his own educational journey, Abbasi said he had travelled from Daan Gali and Kohala to Bakot to study and expressed happiness at meeting former teachers and fellow students at the reception.
Community Leaders Attend Reception
The reception was hosted at the residence of Jamshed Akram Abbasi in Bakot Sharif. It was attended by Chairman Bakot Hussam Jamshed Abbasi, Chairman Malkot Saifullah Abbasi, Vice Chairman Wasif Raja, former Nazim Karli Wajid Awan, Ghazanfar Ali Abbasi, Haji Ahsan Jamshed Abbasi, Sardar Haseeb Abbasi, Advocate, former SHO Basharat Ali Abbasi, former Nazim Beirut Nadeem Abbasi, Shoaib Abbasi, Saeed Naseer Abbasi, Sahibzada Qasim Azhar Bakoti and other local elders.
The participants congratulated Sardar Mukhtar Abbasi on his election to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and welcomed his focus on regional connectivity and local development.
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