Bilawal vows to protect AJK rights, accuses PML-N of pursuing ‘anti-Kashmir’ agenda

Escalating the political battle ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) legislative assembly elections, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of pursuing an “anti-Kashmir” agenda, claiming it wanted to strip the minister of power to impeach the prime minister. his party a large mandate in the first phase of the polls to be held on 27 July.

Addressing an election rally in Mirpur, about 300 kilometers from the AJK capital, Bilawal said the upcoming election would determine the future of the Kashmiri people and vowed that the PPP would continue to champion their political, constitutional and economic rights in all forums.

“The July 27 election is a decision on the future of the Kashmiri people. Use the power of your vote to protect your rights,” he told party workers.

Launching a blistering attack on the PML-N, Bilawal alleged that some federal ministers had insulted AJK residents by claiming that the residents of Mirpur and Rawalakot were “not Kashmiris”.

“Such statements reflect the anti-Kashmir mindset of the PML-N. The people will give their answer through the ballot box,” he said.

The PPP chairman said his party believed in democracy, equality and protection of public rights rather than “politics of hatred, division and prejudice”. He reiterated that decisions regarding AJK should be made by its elected leadership and vowed to continue to defend the Kashmiri people’s “right to self-governance, right to employment and right to ownership.”

Read: Maryam Nawaz hits out at PPP as PML-N launches AJK election campaign

Bilawal also challenged PML-N’s claims of development in Punjab, saying the government’s narrative was belied by conditions on the ground.

“People witnessed the condition of Punjab’s roads while traveling to Dadyal. PML-N must also explain the deprivations in Rajanpur, Layyah, Kasur, Mianwali and other districts,” he said.

He argued that after four terms in the prime minister’s office and several terms as Punjab chief minister, the PML-N could no longer justify asking the public for more time.

“PML-N only considers Raiwind to be Punjab. Look at the condition of neighboring Kasur and the reality becomes clear,” he observed.

Bilawal further claimed that the PML-N planned to curtail the constitutional powers of the AJK Prime Minister through amendments so that important decisions regarding the region would be taken in Islamabad rather than by AJK’s elected representatives.

“The OPP rejects this approach and firmly believes that the people of AJK have the right to determine their own future,” he said.

Calling the July 27 vote a defining moment, Bilawal said the Mirpur division would deliver a “historic verdict” and urged voters to reject those who questioned the identity of the people of Mirpur and Rawalakot.

“When the PML-N is out of power, it seeks the people’s support; when it is in power, it tightens its grip on the people,” he said.

Bilawal appealed to voters to elect PPP candidates in all four Mirpur constituencies naming Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, Chaudhry Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad and Afsar Shahid. He said a convincing victory for Chaudhry Yasir Sultan would confirm the enduring political legacy of Barrister Sultan Mahmood.

Claiming that the voters of Gilgit-Baltistan had already rejected the PML-N, Bilawal predicted that the people of AJK would do the same.

He said that if the PPP secured a two-thirds majority, it would implement its agenda focusing on the Kashmiri people’s right to self-governance, employment and ownership.

PPP calls for internet restoration ahead of AJK polls

PPP-AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen has urged Azad Region Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal to ensure immediate restoration of internet services across the region, warning that the disruption could undermine the transparency of the election process.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Yaseen said that the suspension of internet services created serious difficulties for political parties, candidates and voters during the ongoing election campaign.

He said that uninterrupted internet access was essential to ensure that voters received timely and accurate information about the electoral process and election campaign.

The PPP-AJK president warned that prolonged internet outages could compromise the fairness and transparency of the elections while promoting the spread of fake news, misinformation and rumours.

He said the protection of voters’ right to information was the responsibility of the Election Commission and called for the immediate restoration of internet services to ensure that the election campaign continued without interruption.

Urging the Election Commission to take up the matter with the relevant authorities on an urgent basis, Yaseen said internet connectivity was essential to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in AJK.