- Bilawal says people’s mandate must be decided through ballot.
- Says constitutional convention to be convened after the elections.
- Genuine representation of refugees must be safeguarded: Bilawal.
MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday warned that the federal government’s “countdown” would begin if elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) were rigged.
Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad, the PPP chairman said the people’s mandate must be decided through the ballot, not the bullet. He said that any theft of the public mandate must not be concealed.
His remarks came days after the PML-N won nine seats while the PPP secured four of the 13 seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections in the Mirpur division.
The PPP and PML-N — key allies in the Centre — exchanged heated words after the former accused the latter of rigging during the first phase of the AJK elections on July 27.
According to the AJK chief election commissioner, Muzaffarabad division will vote in second phase on August 2 and Poonch division on August 10.
The PPP had criticised PML-N and the conduct of the AJK elections, saying that the state must decide whether national interest or the PML-N interest was more important. Bilawal had called Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “products” of Form-47, while Maryam called the PPP “master” of rigging.
Addressing the public rally today, the PPP chairman said that a constitutional convention would be convened after the elections, bringing together representatives of the government, opposition, Kashmiri refugees, lawyers and civil society to discuss constitutional matters.
The PPP chairman said that the meaning of the right to rule is that the candidate receiving the public’s vote should emerge victorious.
He added that the future of Kashmir should be decided by the people of Kashmir through their elected assembly.
The PPP leader said that the genuine representation of refugees must be safeguarded. He warned that if refugees’ votes were stolen or manipulated, their longstanding issues would remain unresolved.
Bilawal said Kashmir should have representation in institutions where decisions about its future are made.
He pledged to secure all rights for the people of Kashmir and said jobs created through the region’s resources should primarily benefit Kashmiri youth.
The PPP chairman reiterated his call to establish a truth commission to resolve the ongoing protests and unrest in different parts of the AJK.
