A.J.KASHMIR: July 6: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the importance of political engagement in AJK, calling on all parties to contest upcoming elections and share their policy agendas.
During the oath-taking ceremony of the new Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister, Bilawal highlighted the region’s ongoing democratic progress. He credited former President Asif Ali Zardari for establishing AJK’s distinct identity and praised the emerging youth for carrying forward this democratic legacy.
“AJK’s youth have stepped up to lead,” Bilawal stated. “This spirit of responsibility is now spreading across Pakistan, fueling our collective struggle for rights and development.”
His primary goal remains securing constitutional recognition and rights for AJK. “We want to ensure the people of GB are adequately represented in the National Assembly,” he added.
Bilawal outlined the PPP’s core principles in the region: self-governance, employment opportunities, and property rights. “We are committed to empowering the people of GB to govern their own lands,” he said. “Even uncultivable land should be recognized as belonging to local communities. We propose establishing farming cooperatives and promoting large-scale agriculture through public-private partnerships to benefit local farmers.”
He also stressed the importance of creating jobs for GB’s youth. “It’s the responsibility of the GB government to provide employment,” Bilawal declared. “The Chief Minister has announced that jobs will be awarded on merit, and we will uphold that promise to ensure fairness and transparency.”
Expressing gratitude, Bilawal thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for recognizing the PPP’s mandate and offering support. He also acknowledged cooperation from other political parties like PML-N and IPP.
“I envision a new, positive political culture in AJK,” he said. “Politics should not be about hostility or rivalry. Our government is inclusive, welcoming both winners and losers, and no party worker will be marginalized.”
Bilawal reaffirmed his and Amjad Advocate’s commitment to representing the people’s voice. He announced that local elections in GB will be held before winter.
Addressing border security, he underscored the strategic importance of AJK and Kashmir, sharing Pakistan’s firm stance against Indian aggression. “Our unity in the struggle for rights remains strong,” he said. “Pakistan’s armed forces delivered a historic defeat to Modi’s forces, and India’s attempts to destabilize us through Afghanistan and other means will fail.”
He accused India of trying to weaponize the Indus River and vowed to defend Pakistan’s water resources. “We are prepared to confront any challenge, including war, to protect our interests,” Bilawal declared, asserting Pakistan’s resolve to uphold the Indus Waters Treaty.
He reiterated the longstanding alliance between PPP, AJK, and Kashmir, emphasizing solidarity across generations. “I will visit Kashmir to reaffirm our support,” he said, vowing to continue advocating for Kashmir’s cause on the global stage.
Bilawal called for granting AJK and Azad Kashmir interim self-governance rights and urged all parties to actively participate in upcoming elections. “All regions should have control over their local affairs,” he argued. “Decisions regarding GB and AJK must be made by their own people, without interference from Punjab or Sindh, which do not tolerate external influence in their own affairs.”
He concluded with a message of empowerment: “From the mountains to the rivers, these lands belong to you. They are vital to Pakistan’s economy. Achieving self-governance will open opportunities for all Pakistanis and help us stand united against external conspiracies. Our struggle is for the prosperity and rights of our people.”
