Bilawal calls for dialogue, truth commission to end AJK crisis

MIRPUR, Aug 7 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday called for immediate dialogue and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying the region, particularly Poonch Division, was passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Addressing an election rally in Bagh, he said prolonged road and internet closures, along with the loss of lives among security personnel and civilians, underscored the need for a political solution. He welcomed the AJK Assembly’s resolution supporting a Truth Commission and urged all stakeholders, including protesters and security forces, to abide by it.

The PPP chairman stressed that only free, fair and transparent elections could produce an assembly that truly reflected the will of the Kashmiri people. Criticising the six-phase election schedule, he questioned the rationale behind holding elections in phases and alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process. Bilawal accused his political opponents of trying to impose representatives instead of respecting the public mandate, while reiterating that democracy, constitutional supremacy and the people’s right to choose their representatives must be upheld.

Highlighting the PPP’s election manifesto, Bilawal said his party was committed to securing the rights of governance, ownership and employment for the people of AJK. He maintained that Kashmir’s natural resources should benefit its own people and pledged to restore what he described as the people’s “stolen mandate.” He also alleged that PPP workers had been targeted during the election campaign and vowed that the party would continue its struggle through democratic means to protect the rights of Kashmiris.

Referring to the broader political and regional situation, Bilawal urged the government to focus on national unity instead of internal political confrontation, citing security challenges, terrorism and regional tensions. He said the PPP was prepared to cooperate with the government in the national interest whenever required, but warned that the party would strongly resist any attempt to deprive the people of their democratic mandate.

On this occasion, Chairman PPP said that on 10 August, the PPP’s representatives, Raja Mubashir (LA-14), Sardar Ziaul Qamar (LA-15), Sardar Qamar Zaman and Faisal Rathore from Haveli would emerge victorious. Chairman Bilawal concluded by saying that only the people of Kashmir have the right to determine their own future, and that the PPP would continue following the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by securing for the people the right to governance, the right to ownership and the right to employment.