MIRPUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is pushing for constitutional changes to appoint Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former Prime Minister, as the leader of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Speaking at a rally in LA-3 Mirpur City, Bilawal, whose party is a key member of the federal coalition, accused the PML-N of seeking to install Nawaz Sharif as AJK’s premier through constitutional amendments that would allow the Pakistani Prime Minister to appoint the regional leader.
His comments came a day after Nawaz Sharif jokingly said he would request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to make him the AJK Prime Minister if the party wins upcoming elections. The elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly are scheduled to take place in three phases beginning July 27, with Mirpur voting first, followed by Muzaffarabad on August 2 and Poonch on August 10.
Addressing the crowd, Bilawal emphasized the significance of the upcoming polls, calling them “possibly the most crucial election in AJK’s history,” asserting that the future of the region is closely tied to the electoral outcome.
He lauded the PPP’s historical contributions, mentioning that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of Pakistan’s constitution, while President Asif Ali Zardari secured provincial rights through the 18th Amendment.
Bilawal urged voters to support the PPP in the upcoming elections, promising to extend the same rights to AJK as those enjoyed by the people of Pakistan.
Taking a swipe at the PML-N, he warned against overconfidence, saying, “Those who believe they can take the 12 seats of AJK for granted will do a disservice to the people.”
He also advocated for voting rights for migrants and emphasized that the decision about AJK’s future should rest with its residents.
Commenting on the ongoing protests in the region, Bilawal called for the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He criticized the suspension of internet and cellular services, describing it as a punishment inflicted upon the masses by both protesters and authorities.
In response to recent criticism from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a Muzaffarabad rally, Bilawal mocked her claims, saying, “They speak as if rivers of milk and honey flow through every part of Punjab.”
He further challenged the PML-N’s development narrative, questioning whether its leadership had ever seen the conditions in Cholistan, Pothohar, Rajanpur, Vehari, or Dera Ghazi Khan, implying their claims were exaggerated and disconnected from reality.
