Bilawal vows to protect AJK rights, accuses PML-N of pursuing ‘anti-Kashmir’ agenda

Intensifying the political battle ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of pursuing an “anti-Kashmir” agenda, alleging that it wanted to deprive the AJK Prime Minister of key powers and urging voters to give his party an important mandate during the first phase of the elections which will take place. on July 27.

Addressing an election rally in Mirpur, around 300 kilometers from the AJK capital, Bilawal said the upcoming elections would determine the future of the Kashmiri people and promised that the PPP would continue to defend their political, constitutional and economic rights at every forum.

“The July 27 elections are a decision regarding the future of the Kashmiri people. Use the power of your vote to protect your rights,” he told the party members.

Launching a scathing attack on the PML-N, Bilawal alleged that some federal ministers had offended the people of AJK by saying that the people of Mirpur and Rawalakot were “not Kashmiris”.

“Such statements reflect the anti-Kashmir mentality of the PML-N. The people will give their response through the ballot boxes,” he said.

The PPP chairman said his party believed in democracy, equality and the protection of public rights rather than a “politics of hatred, division and prejudice”. He reiterated that decisions regarding AJK should be taken by its elected leaders and vowed to continue to uphold the “right to self-government, right to employment and right to property” of the Kashmiri people.

Read: Maryam Nawaz attacks PPP as PML-N launches AJK election campaign

Bilawal also disputed the PML-N’s claims regarding development in Punjab, saying the government’s narrative was contradicted by the conditions on the ground.

“People witnessed the condition of Punjab’s roads while traveling to Dadyal. The PML-N must also explain the deprivations in Rajanpur, Layyah, Kasur, Mianwali and other districts,” he said.

He argued that after four terms as Prime Minister and several terms as Punjab Chief Minister, the PML-N could no longer justify seeking more time from the public.

“The PML-N considers only Raiwind to be part of Punjab. Look at the state of neighboring Kasur and the reality becomes evident,” he remarked.

Bilawal further alleged that the PML-N was planning to curtail the constitutional powers of the AJK Prime Minister through amendments so that key decisions relating to the region would be taken in Islamabad rather than by the elected representatives of AJK.

“The PPP rejects this approach and firmly believes that the people of AJK have the right to decide their own future,” he said.

Terming the July 27 vote as a watershed moment, Bilawal said the Mirpur division would deliver a “historic verdict” and urged voters to reject those who question the identity of the people of Mirpur and Rawalakot.

“When the PML-N is no longer in power, it seeks support from the people; when it is in power, it tightens its grip on the people,” he said.

Bilawal appealed to voters to elect PPP candidates in all four constituencies of Mirpur, nominating Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, Chaudhry Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad and Afsar Shahid. He said a convincing victory of Chaudhry Yasir Sultan would confirm the enduring political legacy of lawyer Sultan Mahmood.

Stating that the voters of Gilgit-Baltistan had already rejected the PML-N, Bilawal predicted that the people of AJK would do the same.

He said if the PPP gets a two-thirds majority, it would implement its agenda centered on the right of the Kashmiri people to self-government, employment and property.

PPP calls for internet restoration ahead of AJK elections

PPP-AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen has urged Azad Region Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal to ensure immediate restoration of internet services across the region, warning that the disruption could harm the transparency of the electoral process.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Yaseen said the suspension of internet services was creating serious difficulties for political parties, candidates and voters during the ongoing election campaign.

He said uninterrupted access to the internet was essential to ensure that voters received timely and accurate information about the electoral process and campaigning.

The PPP-AJK president warned that prolonged internet outages could undermine the fairness and transparency of elections while fueling the spread of fake news, misinformation and rumours.

He said protecting voters’ right to information was the responsibility of the Electoral Commission and called for the immediate restoration of internet services to ensure election campaigning continued without interruption.

Yaseen urged the Election Commission to urgently take up the matter with relevant authorities, saying internet connectivity was essential for holding free, fair and transparent elections in AJK.