MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday warned that a “countdown” for the federal government would begin if allegations of rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections were proven.
Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the people’s mandate should be decided through the ballot instead of force, stressing that any attempt to steal public representation should not be hidden.
His remarks came after the first phase of AJK Legislative Assembly elections in Mirpur Division, where Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured nine seats while the PPP won four seats, according to unofficial results.
The PPP and PML-N, despite being coalition partners at the federal level, exchanged strong criticism after the PPP accused the ruling party of manipulating the election process.
According to the AJK chief election commissioner, voting in Muzaffarabad Division will take place in the second phase on August 2, while the Poonch Division elections are scheduled for August 10.
Bilawal said a constitutional convention would be held after the completion of the elections, bringing together representatives from the government, opposition, Kashmiri refugees, lawyers and civil society to discuss constitutional matters.
He said the true meaning of the right to rule was that the candidate receiving the people’s vote should be declared successful.
“The future of Kashmir should be decided by the people of Kashmir through their elected assembly,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairman said genuine representation of refugees must be protected and warned that any manipulation of refugee votes would prevent the resolution of their long-standing issues.
He said Kashmir should have representation in institutions where decisions regarding its future are made.
Bilawal pledged to work for the rights of the people of Kashmir, adding that employment opportunities created through the region’s resources should primarily benefit Kashmiri youth.
He also repeated his demand for establishing a truth commission to investigate recent protests and unrest in different parts of AJK.
The political tensions intensified after the AJK election results, with the PPP alleging irregularities while the PML-N rejected the accusations and maintained that the results reflected the public’s choice.
