AJK’s future must be decided by its people, not outsiders: Bilawal

Mirpur (Web Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was planning to make former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif the premier of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Addressing a public gathering in LA-3 Mirpur City, Bilawal, whose party is a major coalition partner in the federal government, claimed that the PML-N wanted a constitutional amendment that would allow Pakistan’s prime minister to appoint the AJK premier.

“They want a person from Raiwind, who has already served as Pakistan’s prime minister three times, to become the prime minister of AJK as well,” Bilawal said.

The PPP chairman made these remarks a day after PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, in a lighter mood, said that if his party won the upcoming AJK elections, he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to make him the premier of the region.

Elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly are scheduled to take place in three phases, beginning July 27.

According to AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, polling will be held in Mirpur Division on July 27, Muzaffarabad Division on August 2, and Poonch Division on August 10.

Speaking at the election rally, Bilawal described the AJK polls as one of the most significant elections in the region’s history, saying that the future of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was connected to the outcome.

Highlighting the PPP’s contributions, Bilawal said former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave Pakistan a unanimous Constitution, while President Asif Ali Zardari secured provincial rights through the 18th Amendment.

He urged voters in AJK to support the PPP and said his party wanted to provide the people of the region with the same rights enjoyed by citizens across Pakistan.

Criticising the PML-N, Bilawal said those who believed the 12 AJK seats belonged to them would be doing injustice to the people.

He also called for allowing migrants to vote and contest elections but stressed that decisions regarding AJK’s future should remain in the hands of the Kashmiri people.

Commenting on the ongoing protests in AJK, the PPP leader repeated his demand for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

He also criticised the suspension of internet and mobile services in the region, saying that both protesters and the state were causing difficulties for ordinary citizens.

Responding to criticism from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the performance of the PPP-led Sindh government, Bilawal said the PML-N spoke as if Punjab had no problems.

“They consider only Raiwind as Punjab,” he remarked, questioning whether the PML-N leadership had ever visited areas such as Cholistan, Pothohar, Rajanpur, Vehari and Dera Ghazi Khan to see the challenges faced by residents.