Bilawal Bhutto Zardari intensifies PPP campaign in AJK, vows to stay until July 27 polls

MIRPUR, Jul 15 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday intensified his party’s campaign for the July 27 general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), announcing that he would remain in the region until polling day to personally oversee election activities.

Bilawal made the announcement while chairing a high-level meeting in Muzaffarabad attended by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, PPP AJK President Chaudhry Yasin, senior party officials and election candidates.

Party leaders briefed the PPP chairman on campaign activities across the region, saying the party was actively canvassing in every constituency and claiming its election drive was the most visible from Bhimber to Taobat.

Addressing participants, Bilawal said the PPP had consistently supported the people of Kashmir and would continue advocating for their political and constitutional rights. He disclosed that before arriving in AJK he had discussed public service and supply-related issues with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and urged their early resolution.

Referring to the ongoing protest movement, Bilawal said prolonged demonstrations should give way to dialogue, arguing that democratic engagement rather than confrontation offered the most effective path to securing public rights. He also criticized parties that had chosen to boycott the elections, saying participation in democratic institutions remained the best way to address public concerns.

Bilawal said Azad Jammu and Kashmir remained financially dependent on grants from the Pakistani government despite its autonomous status and called for greater constitutional and administrative clarity regarding the region’s governance and distribution of powers.

He said younger generations in AJK expected meaningful political reforms and warned that failure to address their aspirations could create opportunities for disruptive elements to exploit public dissatisfaction.

As part of broader constitutional reforms, Bilawal proposed granting AJK interim or observer representation in Pakistan’s National Assembly and including the region in forums such as the National Finance Commission (NFC), saying such measures would strengthen Kashmiris’ voice in national decision-making and resource allocation.

He also proposed establishing a constitutional forum after the elections to bring together all stakeholders to discuss Kashmir-related issues and enable residents to play a greater role in decisions affecting the region.

Bilawal said that, with the support of Pakistan’s resources and political consensus, the AJK government had addressed nearly all demands raised by protest groups. He reiterated his opposition to what he described as politics of hatred and confrontation, pledging to promote democratic engagement and political stability.

Concluding his address, Bilawal announced that he would remain in Azad Jammu and Kashmir until the July 27 elections to personally supervise the PPP’s campaign across the territory.