PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari pledged to become the voice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir at the federal and international levels. Speaking at a public rally, he promised to bridge the gap between Islamabad and the people of AJK. Moreover, he urged political leaders to better represent the region’s concerns.
Bilawal Calls For Peaceful Political Solutions
Bilawal described the current situation in AJK as a major test for the regional government and Pakistan. He said politicians should act as a bridge between the people and the Centre. However, he claimed they were failing to fulfill that responsibility.
He added that similar challenges also affected Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Furthermore, he promised to represent AJK’s concerns in Islamabad and on international platforms if elected.
Bilawal stressed that political dialogue remained the best way to resolve disputes. Therefore, he proposed forming a truth and reconciliation commission to address issues facing AJK.
He urged both the government and protesters to suspend further actions until the proposed commission completed its work. However, he noted that neither side had responded to his proposal.
PPP Chairman Highlights Election Commitments
Bilawal said peaceful protests remained a democratic right. Nevertheless, he warned that demonstrations disrupting food, fuel, and medicine supplies mainly harmed ordinary citizens.
He also criticized the government for measures that, according to him, affected innocent Kashmiris instead of targeting those responsible for criminal acts. Additionally, he called for restoring normal life and easing restrictions in the region.
Turning to the upcoming elections, Bilawal described them as the most important in AJK’s history. He pledged greater constitutional rights, self-governance, and employment opportunities for the region.
He also promised constitutional conventions after the elections to gather public proposals for reforms. Furthermore, he supported greater legislative representation for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan while advocating stronger local empowerment. General elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for July 27.
