PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) is seeking a constitutional amendment that would allow the Prime Minister of Pakistan to appoint the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Speaking at a public rally in Mirpur City, Bilawal claimed the move was intended to make Nawaz Sharif the AJK premier if the PML-N secures victory in the upcoming elections.
Addressing party supporters, Bilawal said the people of AJK should have the right to choose their own leadership without outside interference. He argued that the future of Kashmir depends on the upcoming elections and urged voters to support the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to safeguard democratic values and the rights of the people.
The PPP chairman’s remarks came after Nawaz Sharif jokingly said at a recent gathering that he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint him as the Prime Minister of AJK if the PML-N wins the elections. Bilawal said such statements reflect the party’s political intentions and questioned whether constitutional changes were being considered for that purpose.
Highlighting the PPP’s political legacy, Bilawal praised Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for introducing Pakistan’s unanimous Constitution and credited President Asif Ali Zardari with strengthening provincial autonomy through the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He promised that, if elected, the PPP would work to ensure that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir enjoy rights similar to those available to citizens across Pakistan.
Bilawal also addressed the recent protests in AJK and repeated his demand for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine the issues facing the region. He criticized the suspension of internet and mobile services, saying ordinary citizens should not suffer because of political disagreements.
Taking aim at the PML-N’s governance claims, Bilawal rejected the idea that development has reached every part of Punjab. He said the party focuses mainly on Raiwind while overlooking areas such as Cholistan, Pothohar, Rajanpur, Vehari, and Dera Ghazi Khan. He concluded by urging the people of AJK to vote for the PPP and decide their own political future.
