Mirpur (National Times) Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing a mammoth election rally in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said that Mirpur is like a second home to him. He said the relationship between the PPP and the people of Mirpur spans three generations, adding that he was proud to see a new generation of young Kashmiris ready to dedicate themselves to the cause of Kashmir and Pakistan.
Chairman Bilawal said that, as Pakistan’s youngest ever Foreign Minister and Chairman of the PPP, he had worked alongside the late Barrister Sultan, father of Yasir Sultan, who had himself worked closely with Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said that it is now their responsibility to carry forward the mission of their elders. Likewise, he said, Qasim Majeed has worked alongside him, just as his father had worked alongside Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Chairman Bilawal expressed the hope that both candidates would continue serving the people of Kashmir together, united as brothers.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the upcoming election is among the most significant in Kashmir’s history, as the future of the region depends upon the decision the people make. Addressing the people of Kashmir, he said his wish is for them to make a choice that secures a brighter future and reduces the hardships they face.
He said Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made historic decisions by giving Pakistan a unanimous, federal and truly Islamic Constitution, while also laying the foundations of the country’s nuclear capability, the only one in the Muslim Ummah. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said, made history by defeating two dictators, and her achievements will forever be remembered. President Asif Ali Zardari, he added, restored the true spirit of the 1973 Constitution through the landmark 18th Amendment, fulfilling the constitutional vision for which Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had struggled throughout her political life. Through the Benazir Income Support Programme, he translated Quaid-e-Awam’s vision of Roti, Kapra aur Makaan into practical relief for millions of Pakistanis.
Chairman Bilawal said that it is now his generation’s turn to leave its mark on history. He said he wants history to remember that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari secured the right to rule, the right to ownership, and the right to employment for the people of AJK.
He said the people of Kashmir deserve the same rights enjoyed by the people of Pakistan and India, without compromising their internationally recognised struggle for the right to self-determination. He stressed that the right to rule extends far beyond the issue of the 12 refugee seats. The PPP, he said, is the only political party seeking a fair and just resolution of that matter.
Chairman PPP said that while the PPP supports meaningful representation for refugees, neither Punjab nor Sindh should decide the future of Kashmir. Only the people of Kashmir have that right.
Chairman Bilawal pledged to ensure justice for both the people of Kashmir and the refugees if the PPP is entrusted with a two-thirds majority. He questioned why Kashmir could not preserve its distinct identity while simultaneously ensuring that its voice is heard in Islamabad. He said the PPP seeks observer representation for AJK in Pakistan’s key constitutional institutions, including the CCI, NFC, National Assembly and the Senate.
Turning to the party’s principles, Chairman Bilawal said the PPP firmly believes that the people are the rightful owners of their natural resources, whether in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Kashmir. The mountains, rivers and land belong to the people alone.
On employment, Chairman Bilawal said the PPP is the only party with a proven record spanning three generations. He said Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto created employment opportunities not only within Pakistan but also across Europe and the Gulf, enabling generations of Pakistanis to build better futures abroad.
Chairman PPP said Kashmir needs a government that can guarantee its people the right to rule, ownership of their land, and employment opportunities for its youth. He urged party workers to take the PPP’s manifesto to every household across Kashmir.
Chairman Bilawal said differences of opinion strengthen democratic societies, and every citizen has the right to express their views. However, he said, the current situation in Kashmir is being handled in an inappropriate manner. The PPP believes the crisis can be resolved through dialogue and the proposal it has already presented.
Referring to the letter written by the protestors, Chairman Bilawal said he had responded by proposing the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the matter. He said ordinary Kashmiris are being punished for a dispute between the protestors and the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairman PPP said he has directed the PPP President AJK to formally write to the Election Commission, questioning how a free and transparent election can take place when internet services remain suspended and digital election campaigns cannot be conducted.
He criticised the statements made by certain federal ministers, saying they had worsened tensions. Referring to the PML-N rally in Muzaffarabad, he said it was disappointing that neither its leadership nor speakers addressed the controversy or distanced themselves from those remarks.
Chairman Bilawal appealed to the people across every constituency of Kashmir to break with old political loyalties and vote for Kashmir by stamping the arrow. He said the PPP has always rejected the politics of hatred and division.
He said the PML-N leadership is boasting about development in Punjab while ignoring the realities of other regions. He added that the PPP stands by its vision of the right to rule, the right to ownership and the right to employment.
Chairman Bilawal said that at a time when the people of Kashmir are demanding greater rights, the PML-N’s answer is to introduce legislation that would strip Kashmir of whatever limited rights it currently possesses. He alleged that proposals seek to take away the people’s right to elect their own Prime Minister by transferring that authority to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Chairman PPP said the people of Mirpur must decide whether they wish to secure greater rights for Kashmir or surrender those rights. He urged voters to stamp the arrow if they believe in the right to rule, the right to ownership, and in defending the identity of Kashmir.
Chairman Bilawal expressed confidence that the PPP would emerge victorious in AJK and urged the people to elect Yasir Sultan, Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad and Afsar Shahid for prosperity, progress and a stronger future for Kashmir.
