MUZAFFARABAD: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), issued a stern warning on Wednesday, stating that any rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections would trigger a “countdown” from the federal government. He emphasized that the future of Kashmir should be determined by its people through their elected representatives.
Speaking at a rally in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal stressed the importance of ensuring that the mandate of the people is decided via the ballot box, not through coercion or violence. He condemned any attempts to distort or conceal the people’s choice.
This statement comes amid ongoing tensions following the recent AJK Legislative Assembly elections, in which PML-N secured nine seats and PPP won four of the 13 seats in the Mirpur division. The first phase of voting took place on July 27, with subsequent phases scheduled for August 2 (Muzaffarabad division) and August 10 (Poonch division), as per the Chief Election Commissioner of AJK.
The PPP and PML-N have exchanged sharp accusations, with the PPP alleging electoral rigging by the PML-N, which the latter has denied. The opposition has criticized the conduct of the elections, questioning whether the state’s interests or the PML-N’s priorities were being served. Bilawal also criticized Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling them “products” of Form-47, while Maryam responded by accusing the PPP of rigging.
Addressing the rally, Bilawal announced plans to convene a constitutional convention after the elections, bringing together representatives from the government, opposition, Kashmiri refugees, legal experts, and civil society to discuss constitutional issues.
He reaffirmed that the core principle of democracy is that the candidate with the most votes should be declared the winner. Bilawal underscored that Kashmir’s future must be decided by its own people through free and fair elections, and that the genuine representation of refugees must be protected. Any manipulation or theft of refugee votes, he warned, would leave long-standing issues unresolved.
The PPP leader highlighted the importance of Kashmiri representation in decision-making bodies and vowed to secure the region’s rights. He also stressed that employment opportunities generated from Kashmir’s natural resources should primarily benefit local youth.
Bilawal concluded by calling for the formation of a truth commission to address ongoing protests and unrest in various parts of AJK, aiming to foster lasting peace and justice.
