Syed Nashir Ali Gillani
Srinagar, Aug 31: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), representing Panchs and Sarpanchs, on Thursday said they would contest the elections scheduled to be held in October.
Chairman AJKPC, Shafiq Mir, told The Kashmir Monitor that they were ready to take part in the elections.
“Threats have been pouring in, the atmosphere is scary. It is the responsibility of the government to provide right atmosphere during the elections,” he said.
Earlier this week, Hizbul Mujahideen threatened the potential candidates of attacks.
Mir, terming AJKPC a non-political organisation, said the development of far flung areas cannot be ignored.
“We are not affiliated to any party. Panchayats are just community institutions and civic bodies. They don’t make laws. Our job is to address the grievances of people at the grassroots level,” he said.
A former Sarpanch from Kralwaith, Tanmarg, Mirza Aftab Beigh said Panchayat elections have nothing to do with the Kashmir issue.
“We have nothing to do with the politics. We are there for the welfare of people. Our job is to provide facilities at the grassroots level,” he said.
The announcement for elections to the urban local bodies and Panchayats was made by the former governor N N Vohra in his August 15 speech here.
