LAHORE: PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif has said the NFC Award is a constitutional right, not charity, and that he will ask the prime minister to allocate funds for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) under the award.
Speaking to party leaders from AJK and GB in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif stressed that merit must guide the distribution of election tickets. He said merit has always been the party’s principle and that any violation of it will not be tolerated.
He said the party’s parliamentary board listens to all applicants before deciding on tickets, and that PMLN has never compromised on merit — whether in national or provincial elections. He urged that long-standing party workers should receive tickets strictly on merit.
Nawaz Sharif said all candidates will be heard, decisions will be merit-based, and party principles will not be compromised. He added that many people will seek tickets, but the leadership must distinguish between loyal workers and others. He called on party members to work collectively to ensure the victory of nominated candidates.
He said that provincial development spending made by the party already exceeds the amounts expected through the NFC Award. He added that the federal government should itself take the lead in ensuring provinces receive their due share under the NFC. He said GB and AJK should also receive funds under the award and that he would recommend this to the prime minister.
Nawaz Sharif noted that public sentiment in AJK and GB appears positive and that good results should follow in upcoming elections. He urged transparency in development projects and said action is being taken against land grabbers and encroachments.
He said the “Clean Punjab” initiative has contributed to the province’s development, and that law and order has improved. He added that hospitals across Punjab are being expanded and that patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces are coming to Punjab for treatment. He said it is his desire to win the elections and continue serving the people.
The former prime minister announced that party leaders in AJK and GB should further improve organisational matters, and he himself will visit several areas.
