THERE are moments in political life that appear to be routine gatherings but acquire significance because of the larger message they carry. The meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir parliamentary party in Murree was one such occasion. The presence of PML-N President and Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif gave the gathering unusual political and emotional significance. Yet the real importance lay in its message of reconciliation, loyalty to workers, confidence in Azad Kashmir’s future and commitment to development.

It was also an occasion to recognise the sacrifices of party workers, with Nawaz Sharif giving unsuccessful candidates Mushtaq Minhas, Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed and Engineer Mohsin Aziz an opportunity to speak alongside the successful ones. The gesture conveyed that electoral defeat does not diminish a worker’s contribution or loyalty; those who stand by the party in difficult times remain part of its political family. Nawaz Sharif’s remarks on Azad Kashmir were equally significant. The recent unrest and political tensions are a matter of concern, but his approach was not to exploit the situation or single out individuals for blame. Instead, he pointed towards public frustration, governance failures and delayed solutions to people’s problems. His message was that Kashmir needs healing rather than........

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