By Our Correspondent
MUZAFFARABAD: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing party leaders and ticket holders in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, stated he is proud to be at the base camp of the movement for the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that we belong to a party whose leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, taught them to “spill our blood where the sweat of Kashmiris is spilled.” From Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, we have inherited this struggle, the Chairman said. He stated that if our Kashmiris or the soldiers and armed forces of Pakistan are targeted from within Kashmir or elsewhere in the country, it is unacceptable.
“Whether it is a politician or a worker, it is not tolerable for us. Our military is our red line. It has safeguarded our borders and recently handed Modi a historic defeat,” he said.
Chairman Bilawal said that the recent situation is concerning for every Kashmiri and Pakistani. If the unrest prolongs, it will harm the Kashmir cause and the reputation of Pakistan at a time when international conspiracies are being hatched. Despite it all, Pakistan and our military’s role remain evident before the world, the Chairman PPP said.
Pakistan is currently playing a crucial role in addressing the conflict in Iran initiated by Israel, while simultaneously defending the country against India’s attacks, countering its proxies in Afghanistan, and downing its fighter jets. Our military is giving them a befitting response when they look for trouble in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through their terrorists. Modi intends to weaponize the River Indus through the Indus Water Treaty, but our entire country is determined to defend it.
Chairman Bilawal noted that when Netanyahu and his “Temu-version” were together in Israel before the war in Iran, it became apparent that certain foreign elements are looking for an opportunity to target us. This is because ours is the very country that is combatting their conspiracies and rendering them redundant. Every politician, worker, and common man—including protestors and policymakers—should reflect on what needs to be done. Our choice of words needs to be responsible, and we should do politics in a manner that leaves no space for the enemies of Pakistan to exploit. It is our desire for the issues in Kashmir to be resolved politically and peacefully, Chairman Bilawal said.
Finding a Middle Ground
Chairman Bilawal further said that the State of Pakistan’s stance is legitimate, and it cannot be blackmailed by any entity. On the other hand, there are demands that are being made. We would want for a middle ground to be reached. The people of Karachi still remember how Altaf Hussain’s politics affected their lives in the ‘90s. Hence, we would never want to give space to such a manner of politics in Azad Kashmir.
The PPP believes that the continuing loss of lives in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including the deaths reported yesterday, is a national tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to every bereaved family and pray for the recovery of all those injured, Chairman Bilawal said. Every Kashmiri life is precious; the death of a peaceful citizen cannot be treated as an acceptable consequence of political disagreement, just as the life of every police and security official must also be protected.
The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have an unquestionable right to raise their political, economic, and constitutional grievances, but they must do so peacefully. Peaceful citizens must not engage in violence, hate speech, or be indiscriminately branded as terrorists, anti-Pakistan, or agents of a foreign power mainly for demanding their rights, the Chairman PPP stressed. At the same time, any specific allegation of violence, whether against a protester or a member of law enforcement, must be investigated individually, impartially, and according to the law. The present confrontation cannot be resolved through force or inflammatory accusations, nor can commitments made in writing be allowed to disappear into competing claims about what has or has not been implemented.
Proposal for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Chairman Bilawal said that the PPP proposes the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, constituted with the agreement of all concerned parties.
Mandate: The Commission should be given a sufficiently broad mandate to examine the present situation and establish relevant facts.
Scope: It should consider the grievances and positions of all sides, reviewing outstanding political, legal, and administrative questions.
Objective: The Commission should recommend a just and lasting way forward.
Chairman PPP said that he has already opposed questioning the Kashmiri identity of the people of Rawalakot on the floor of the National Assembly. No one sitting in Islamabad has the right to determine who is, or is not, a Kashmiri, Chairman Bilawal reiterated. The dignity and identity of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir are not conditional upon their agreement with any government.
The protestors should ensure that their activity is peaceful and cooperate in creating the space required for immediate and meaningful political negotiations, Chairman Bilawal appealed. He said that this appeal is not a request for surrender or silence, but one to save lives while pursuing a just political settlement. Pakistan’s relationship with the people of Kashmir must be founded upon consent, dignity, democratic rights, and mutual respect. At this grave moment, our first responsibility is to prevent further bloodshed and restore trust through verifiable actions.
Chairman PPP appealed to the protestors to suspend their activity, sit-ins, and long marches once an agreement has been reached on the formation of such a commission. Correspondingly, the authorities and government should refrain from further measures pending the outcome of the commission.
“If this proposal is acceptable to the governments of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and the protestors, then the PPP is ready to play its part to help resolve the current crisis in the best interests of the people of Kashmir,” Chairman Bilawal stated.
Chairman PPP said that he talked to Ishaq Dar, who assured him of responding to the proposal after talking to the Prime Minister. We await a response, and cannot compel anyone to agree with our stance, but this is an appropriate way to resolve the current political crisis in our view. Contesting the elections in the current situation is difficult, but the PPP never shies away from elections. Certain factions were of the impression that the PPP would not be able to campaign in Kashmir as it did in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), but that is their misconception. Chairman Bilawal said that he would stay among the leaders and workers of the party in Kashmir and form the government.
Constitutional Reforms and the Future of Kashmir
Chairman PPP said that the current crisis is not new and has been exacerbated through apolitical handling and inappropriate statements. This is a federal ministers’-made crisis, and now they have to play a role that helps pave a way. However, underneath it all, there are endemic issues that need to be addressed. We have won the elections in GB, and our manifesto has always been centered around the right to rule, the right to ownership, and the right to employment. The PPP has been struggling not only within the country but also internationally for these rights, be it when it comes to a plebiscite or the right to self-determination.
This struggle was helmed by Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto and carried on through Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who got Azad Kashmir Observer Status in the OIC. Quaid-e-Awam abolished the system of the joint secretary and gave it a parliamentary system, leading Kashmir’s struggle on the world stage. We are not willing to go back even an inch when it comes to this struggle. As the youngest Foreign Minister of the country, I raised the voice of the people of Kashmir not only internationally and in the United Nations, but on Indian soil as well, Chairman PPP said. We have to do this for our brothers and sisters struggling on the other side of the LOC, who are martyred raising the slogan of *Pakistan Zindabad* and are buried in our flag.
Chairman Bilawal said that only Kashmir will decide for Kashmir, not any other city in Pakistan.
“When we are in 2026, we would like to ask the Kashmiri people whether they are content with the current situation. If they desire more rights without compromising our international struggle, then the path towards this is to legislate.”
In our view, a constitutional convention can be arranged after the elections, where the legislative measures that could be taken to achieve more rights should be considered. In the last election, PPP bagged 13 seats, but the government had to be selected as it was the PTI’s era. The refugee seats had a significant role to play in it, but the PPP did not object. Now, the people of Kashmir are raising this point themselves. We can protect the votes and representation of refugee seats, all while ensuring that only Kashmir can decide for itself.
Chairman PPP said that the majority of the population comprises youngsters, and they are not willing to wait. In the same manner that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto secured Observer Status for Azad Kashmir in the OIC, my dream would be to secure a similar status for the people of Kashmir in the NFC, CCI, National Assembly, or the Senate of Pakistan, if the people wish so.
When it comes to the right to ownership, be it Azad Kashmir or Illegally Occupied Kashmir, the rivers and mountains belong to the Kashmiri people. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto carried out the biggest land reforms in the history of the country, and we are following his footsteps by introducing the biggest land transfer in Sindh, giving ownership to women flood victims. In GB too, we have carried out legislative measures and now have the mandate to implement them. When the right to employment is concerned, Quaid-e-Awam’s slogan of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” still echoes, and we aim to create employment opportunities so the youth can support themselves.
The PPP believes in empowering the downtrodden masses, and their progress is true prosperity. In contrast, our political rivals believe that progress means making the rich richer. They believe that Kashmir is in the pocket of Faisalabad, and they are wrong.
Chairman PPP said that he is grateful to the PM and Ishaq Dar for respecting the mandate of PPP in GB, and they have assured to do the same when the PPP is triumphant in Kashmir. The only party in the contest that believes in giving rights and employment to the people is the PPP. The future of Kashmir is only in the hands of the Kashmiri people, Chairman Bilawal expressed. He instructed party members to convey this message to every household in Kashmir.
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