Bilawal says PPP poised to form government in AJK

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Friday his party is in a position to form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), adding that the decision about the region’s next prime minister will be made from Kashmir, not Islamabad.

Speaking to the media after chairing a meeting of the PPP’s parliamentary party AJK chapter, Bilawal said the PPP has always raised its voice for Kashmir and fought for its freedom on international platforms.

“As foreign minister, I conveyed the voice of the Kashmiri people to global forums,” he said.

The PPP chairman said the party’s performance and struggle were evident to everyone, asserting that the PPP has stood with the people of Kashmir whenever they needed support. “The history of the PPP and Kashmir is before everyone,” he said.

Bilawal claimed that the PPP’s victory in AJK was turned into defeat overnight, alleging that an “apolitical mindset” had created a political vacuum in the region.

“During the PTI founder’s government, everyone’s role was clear,” he remarked.

He said the PPP has been fighting the case of Kashmir for three generations and remains the only party that truly represents the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

“I promise the people of Kashmir that Bilawal Bhutto will not disappoint them,” he added.

Bilawal said the coming period before the next elections would be a test for his party but expressed confidence in the PPP’s ability to take responsibility for governance in AJK.

Earlier, the PPP reportedly finalised Chaudhry Yasin as its candidate for the slot of the AJK prime minister in anticipation of a possible in-house change.

he PPP’s central leadership approved Yasin’s name during a meeting chaired by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The session was also attended by the PPP’s AJK leadership.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting at the President’s House on Thursday to discuss the country’s political situation and possible political change in AJK.

According to sources, representatives from both the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were also present during the meeting