Bilawal slams Khawaja Asif over Kashmir remarks, urges PM to rein in cabinet members

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday launched a sharp critique against Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a parliamentary session, exposing cracks within the country’s ruling coalition over the handling of unrest in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

Khawaja Asif on Tuesday defended his remarks on the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying they had been “frank and honest,” while accusing elements pursuing “external agendas” of attempting to distort his comments.

In a statement posted on X, Asif said those with “sinister agendas” could neither separate Kashmir from Pakistan nor Pakistan from Kashmir.

Speaking in the National Assembly during a federal budget debate, Bilawal accused Asif of exacerbating regional tensions and even refused to apologise for statements on the Rawalakot protest.

“The federal minister’s statement attempted to fan the flames of the fire already burning in Kashmir,” he said, adding that public remarks questioning the identity of residents in Rawalakot had compromised Pakistan’s broader diplomatic stance on the disputed territory.

“Why are individuals who refuse to recognise the people of Rawalakot as Kashmiris still sitting in the federal cabinet? The defence minister is not even willing to apologise,” he told the lower house of parliament.

Bilawal, whose party provides crucial legislative backing to Sharif’s minority government, urged the prime minister to enforce stricter discipline among his cabinet members.

“The prime minister genuinely wants to steer the country out of its difficulties in a positive manner. However, there are a few ministers who are consistently creating problems for him,” Bhutto-Zardari said, calling on the administration to rein in cabinet members.

Despite the critical remarks, the PPP chairman reiterated his party’s support for the coalition government, noting he had voted for Sharif twice and trusted his administrative intent.

He urged all political factions to unite to solve economic challenges and stressed that the federal budget must be finalised and passed ahead of the upcoming Ashura holidays.

Turning to local governance, Bilawal demanded nationwide local government elections, specifically promising that the local council polls in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan would be held within 90 days.

He dismissed claims that local government structures were unfeasible, pointing out that local bodies remain fully operational in provinces governed by the PPP.