MUZAFFARABAD (MNN); Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday launched his election campaign for the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections, pledging to become the voice of the people of Kashmir at the federal and international levels while promising constitutional reforms and greater empowerment for the region.
Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the current situation in AJK was among the most difficult he had witnessed and described it as a major test for the AJK government, the state of Pakistan and all political parties.
He said it was the primary responsibility of political leaders to represent the people’s concerns in Islamabad and on international forums, regretting that this role had not been fulfilled effectively.
“Politicians must serve as a bridge between the people of Azad Kashmir and the federal government, but unfortunately that bridge has weakened,” Bilawal said.
He added that similar governance challenges were also being faced by the people of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Seeking public support in the July 27 elections, Bilawal promised that if elected, he would strongly represent the people of AJK both in Islamabad and before the international community.
He stressed that all disputes could be resolved through political dialogue and peaceful means, reaffirming his commitment to addressing the challenges facing Azad Kashmir.
The PPP chairman revealed that he had proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help resolve the ongoing political tensions in AJK. He said if both the government and protesters accepted the proposal, it could pave the way for a peaceful settlement.
Bilawal appealed to protesters to suspend their demonstrations and urged the government to avoid further action until the proposed commission completed its work. However, he noted that neither side had yet responded to his proposal.
“If this proposal is not acceptable, then both the government and the protesters should present an alternative solution,” he remarked.
Bilawal acknowledged that peaceful protest was a democratic right but warned that demonstrations disrupting the supply of food, fuel and medicines ultimately hurt ordinary citizens rather than the government.
He also questioned the government’s response to the protests, saying action should only be taken against those responsible for criminal acts instead of creating hardships for the entire population.
Calling for restraint from both sides, Bilawal urged the government and protesters to ensure that common Kashmiris were not deprived of essential services.
Referring to Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in regional affairs, Bilawal remarked that if Pakistan could contribute to easing tensions between the United States and Iran and help facilitate maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, then it should also resolve the situation in Azad Kashmir.
Describing the upcoming July 27 elections as the most significant in AJK’s history, Bilawal said the PPP’s manifesto guarantees the rights of self-governance, self-ownership and employment for the people of Azad Kashmir.
He said AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan were strategically important regions that deserved greater constitutional rights and political empowerment without compromising Pakistan’s principled position on the Kashmir dispute.
Bilawal announced that if elected, the PPP would convene constitutional conventions after the elections to seek public input on governance reforms.
“Only the people of Kashmir have the right to decide the future governance structure of Kashmir,” he said.
He also pledged to work for the representation of Kashmiris in legislative institutions, either through observer status or an interim constitutional arrangement, while reiterating his opposition to the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan in favour of greater regional autonomy.
The AJK Election Commission has scheduled general elections for July 27, while the PPP has fielded candidates on 35 of the 45 Legislative Assembly seats and allocated two seats to its electoral ally, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F).
