Bilawal says system has failed, calls for free and fair elections in AJK

WEB DESK: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said the system has failed, calling for a free and fair election in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Addressing the current situation in a political rally in Bagh district of AJK, Bilawal said the crisis there was the biggest example of the system’s failure. “I promise the people of Azad Kashmir that I will get the stolen seats back,” he said, adding that if the system had collapsed, there would also be a solution.

Bilawal said the PPP wanted peace to be restored in AJK so that ordinary people could return to their normal lives. The government was neither ready to hold transparent elections nor establish a commission to address the situation, he added.

“First, they said 10 seats were already in their pocket. After that, they stole the elections in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad,” Bilawal said.

He added that 11 seats were still left and warned that the PML-N would “find out what happens next”.

Bilawal said those dreaming of forming a government in Muzaffarabad had also put the Islamabad government at risk.

He said that the president of Azad Kashmir and an elected MNA had been attacked in Muzaffarabad, saying the PPP had stood with the people in the past and continued to stand with them.

“The people of Kashmir will decide Kashmir’s future,” Bilawal said, adding that his party wanted free and fair elections in Kashmir and would not accept an election marred by rigging.

Bilawal also said the PPP would contest elections according to its manifesto and would not become part of any decision that went against the people.

Calls for political unity

Bilawal urged the government and political forces to avoid confrontation, saying the country needed unity and consensus instead of political infighting.

“This is not the time to fight among ourselves; there is a need for unity and consensus,” he said.

He said the government should not fight with the people or its allies, saying that a particular faction within the PML-N wanted to create a rift between the prime minister and his coalition partners.

“They are also pitting the prime minister against his allies,” Bilawal said, adding that the intentions of some people surrounding the prime minister were not clear.

He said the PPP had no complaint against the prime minister. “If the PPP were in opposition, they would know what it means,” Bilawal said, adding that the party had no hesitation in performing its role as an opposition force.

Bilawal backs new provinces

Speaking about the creation of new provinces, Bilawal said the PPP supported public opinion on the matter. He said new provinces should be created wherever there was public support for them. “Consensus has been reached in Punjab and the Senate regarding new provinces,” Bilawal said.

Calls for dialogue

Bilawal said all political and national issues could be resolved through dialogue. “All problems can be resolved through dialogue,” he said, adding that every Pakistani and Kashmiri was worried about the current situation.

He also questioned the prolonged suspension of internet services, saying it had never happened anywhere that the internet remained shut down for 50 days. Bilawal said the PPP would continue to stand with the people and would fight for their rights.

He also said the people of Kashmir would be provided with their right to ownership and right to employment.

Meanwhile, Bilawal said the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution seeking constitutional rights, stressing that the rights of the people should be respected.