Bilawal Bhutto urges AJK protesters to end protests peacefully

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday made a direct appeal to protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), urging them to end their demonstrations peacefully and bring their protest activities to a “peaceful conclusion”.

In a press release, Bilawal said that “the impending signing of the Islamabad Accord marks a historic moment, adding that at a time when the international spotlight is firmly on Pakistan, the ongoing unrest in AJK is damaging both the Kashmir cause and Pakistan’s reputation.”

Tensions have increased in AJK following recent deadly clashes that have given rise to conflicting narratives over casualties, governance grievances and political legitimacy. Official sources have confirmed at least seven deaths.

He warned that the situation also creates an “unnecessary opportunity” for hostile actors and the “India-Israel nexus” to exploit the developments for their own purposes.

The PPP chairman called on those who took the law into their own hands to surrender to local authorities and allow due process to take its course.

He stressed that all political grievances and disagreements must be resolved through “democratic, constitutional and peaceful means,” saying Parliament and the political process, not the streets, are the appropriate forums to resolve such issues.

Bilawal noted that the PPP has already called on the Election Commission to withdraw its “premature election timetable”, reiterating the party’s commitment to seeking a political solution.

He said the party would seek to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address outstanding grievances and move the process towards a “just and lasting conclusion”, adding that the people of Kashmir should not be subjected to repeated cycles of protest and uncertainty.

He added that if all stakeholders, including the federal government, agreed, the AJK government could review the notifications issued regarding the protesting parties at an appropriate time.

Reiterating a balance between accountability and fairness, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said there can be no compromise on the rule of law or holding illegal actors accountable, but stressed that individuals who have done nothing wrong should not suffer the consequences of the actions of others.

Read: AJK SC Bar Association warns peace violators, calls for immediate surrender

Meanwhile, the PPP Azad Kashmir central committee has demanded that the Election Commission withdraw the current election schedule, calling for immediate consultations in light of the current situation.

Addressing a press conference, PPP Azad Kashmir Chairman Chaudhry Yasin said “saving the state is the top priority” in the current circumstances, emphasizing that the party’s policies have always revolved around the Kashmir issue.

He recalled that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto highlighted the cause of Kashmir at the global level, while adding that in the last seven months, efforts were made to resolve public issues and restore democratic processes.

Chaudhry Yasin said that while security personnel were being martyred, civilians were also affected by the developing situation. He criticized the rushed announcement of the seating schedule for migrants, saying it was released just days before the call for protests, which was not appropriate.

He noted that during the negotiations, most of the Public Action Committee’s demands had been accepted, saying that “37 of 38 demands” had already been implemented, while only the constitutional issue of migrant seats remained under discussion.

He said alternative constitutional and legal options existed regarding migrant representation, and added that a one-week extension had been requested from the committee but was not accepted. In the current situation, he said, holding elections for migrant seats seems difficult.

Chaudhry Yasin urged the Election Commission to withdraw the timetable and continue the consultation process, saying the PPP is not in favor of confrontation or conflict. He warned that hostile forces, including India, could take advantage of the situation.

He stressed that “12 migrant seats have no more value than human lives”, adding that solutions must be found through dialogue, political consensus and the democratic process. He also highlighted emerging shortages of essential goods in Azad Kashmir, saying the region faces serious uncertainties.

Other senior leaders present included former Prime Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Information Secretary Javed Ayub, Chief Minister Mian Wahid, Javed Budhanvi, Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, Chaudhry Qasim Majeed and Yasir Sultan.

AJK protests

The recent unrest and deadly clashes in certain areas, notably in Rawalakot, where the recently banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized a sit-in in front of the Rawalakot Combined Military Hospital. AJK police say armed JAAC members opened fire on security forces deployed during a planned attack, leaving four people dead and around 20 injured. The JAAC, however, disputes this version, saying that security forces used tear gas and fired shells towards the hospital.

According to the AJK police, three individuals linked to the JAAC and four law enforcement personnel were killed during Sunday’s protests. The JAAC, however, said in a statement on

Sunday’s clash came as the AJK government and JAAC witnessed a face-off, with the election date for AJK announced for July 27.

Learn more: Some elements seeking to create instability within AJK despite repeated offers for dialogue: Rana Sanaullah

The 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly has 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, people who fled Indian-controlled Kashmir in 1947 and 1965 and are now scattered across Pakistan. Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division (~434,000 people) and six from the Kashmir Valley (~30,000 people) – an already lopsided arrangement that many see as unfair.

The region experienced one of its most turbulent periods in October last year, when JAAC-led protests erupted demanding constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three police officers, were killed during the unrest.

The JAAC, which organized the protests and strike, had presented a broad charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the removal of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and the abolition of the quota system.

Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement on 12 basic points and 13 additional points. Under the agreement, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to look into the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Learn more: Four policemen martyred, over 20 injured in Rawalakot shooting: AJK Police

The unrest also sparked political upheaval in the region. The PPP then moved a no-confidence resolution against the then Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz joining the effort. Haq, elected in April 2023 with 48 votes, chose to face the vote rather than resign.

On 17 November, Rathore received 36 votes in the elections and became the 16th Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

With elections approaching and the refugee seat issue still unresolved, the AJK government has convened an All Party Conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad to reach a consensus. Almost all major parties were present – ​​except the PTI and JAAC, which boycotted it.

The JAAC’s position is that the government had already rejected its written proposals submitted on May 30 and therefore there would be no point in attending. He had proposed either maintaining token representation of refugees until the Kashmir conflict is finally resolved or replacing the 12 seats in the Assembly with 4 seats in the AJK Council – a body chaired by the Prime Minister, which he said would better preserve the political dimension of the Kashmir cause.

The APC rejected any changes outside the constitutional and legislative framework, saying only the elected assembly could change the distribution of refugee seats. The JAAC called the resolution “a page and a half of utterly trivial lines” and accused participants of coming together to serve their own interests rather than those of the public.