PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari meets JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss national political issues in Islamabad on Tuesday. Photo: X/PPP
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday called for dialogue to resolve the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while announcing an electoral alliance for both the upcoming and the upcoming region’s electoral alliance. solution.
Addressing a joint press conference after their meeting, Fazl revealed that the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had approached him to mediate the crisis, while Bilawal said he was prepared to play a role in resolving the issue regardless of the personal consequences.
The JUI-F chief said the sit-in in AJK continued and revealed that following his offer to mediate, JAAC had sent a delegation to him and formally sought his mediation.
He said Bilawal had supported his mediation efforts in Parliament despite being part of the government.
“We are also jointly conveying a message to the Prime Minister and we hope that Shehbaz Sharif will take positive steps regarding the situation in Azad Kashmir,” he said.
The JUI-F chief also said that if his party’s AJK unit entered into an electoral alliance with the PPP, he would fully support the arrangement.
Bilawal said that Fazl had always played an important role in politics and that he had met him to discuss the ongoing protests in Kashmir. “We both have a lot of experience with protest movements.”
The PPP chairman urged the federal government to support efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue.
Also read: PPP, JUI-F announce alliance for AJK polls
“We request the government to support us on the Kashmir issue as well. Elections in Kashmir have already been announced and we want free and fair elections,” he said.
Bilawal also announced that PPP and JUI-F would jointly contest the upcoming AJK elections.
“OPP wants to form the government in Kashmir along with JUI-F,” he said.
He also appealed to the JAAC to remain within the bounds of the law and the constitution.
Expressing concern over content circulating on social media regarding Kashmir, Bilawal said such material was worrisome and deserved condemnation.
“Every issue is resolved through dialogue and political disputes can only be settled by political means. We have to resolve this matter politically,” he said.
Referring to the dispute over refugee-reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, Bilawal said the issue had reached an impasse.
“The refugee camps in Kashmir have reached an impasse. These camps will not be abolished through protests or sit-ins. The only solution is a constitutional amendment through the legislature,” he said.
Bilawal further disclosed that he had invited JAAC to attend the recently held All Parties Conference but the group chose not to attend.
“I am ready to solve this problem even if I am punished for it. Kashmir is our jugular vein and it has already suffered huge damage,” he said.
