‘Countdown’ to begin for federal govt if AJK elections rigged: Bilawal

Muzaffarabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said he envisions a peaceful, just and prosperous Kashmir, reaffirming his party’s commitment to securing all legitimate rights for the people of the region.

Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the future of Kashmir should be determined by its elected legislative assembly, stressing that true sovereignty means electoral outcomes must be decided solely through the ballot box. He said he had come to present his vision for the region, aiming to transform Kashmir into a strong, prosperous and developed territory.

Expressing concerns over the electoral process, the PPP chairman declared that any attempt to steal the public mandate would not be accepted.

He demanded that if the elections were conducted fairly, all relevant records should be made public. He also called for open hearings on every election-related complaint before August 2.

Bilawal announced that an constitutional convention would be convened after the elections, with invitations extended to all political parties.

He also pledged to work towards securing observer status for Kashmiris in the Senate and National Assembly so their voices could be represented in key national decision-making forums.

He added that he wanted Kashmir to emerge not on the model of Punjab or Sindh, but as a strong and empowered region with its own identity.

He underlined the need to ensure essential public services reach people at their doorstep and described Kashmiri refugees as an integral part of the state's history and political struggle, promising them meaningful representation.

Bilawal further said the PPP’s contribution to establishing medical colleges and universities in Kashmir could not be overlooked, adding that the region deserved representation in institutions where important national decisions are made.

Warning of possible political repercussions, he said the federal government could face greater challenges if the electoral mandate was not restored. He also urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters to abandon the politics of boycott and accept the commission established to address election-related protests.

The PPP chairman said the Azad Kashmir Assembly had called on the Government of Pakistan to establish a Truth Commission.

Referring to the Mirpur elections, he claimed that evidence and video recordings had been submitted to the Election Commission, but the official notification was issued despite those submissions.