MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said he does not want to see what he described as “MQM-style politics” or the politics associated with the party’s founder in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), urging political stakeholders to resolve issues through constitutional and democratic means.
Bilawal made the remarks while chairing a meeting in Azad Kashmir ahead of the region’s upcoming elections.
During the meeting, the PPP chairman criticized political parties that chose to boycott the electoral process, saying such decisions undermine democratic engagement.
“We condemn the decision of political parties that boycotted the elections,” Bilawal said, adding that once the elections are completed, a constitutional forum should be convened where all stakeholders can sit together and allow the people of Kashmir to decide matters concerning their future.
Referring to recent protests in Azad Kashmir, Bilawal said the regional government had accepted all of the protesters’ demands, claiming that their demands had been fulfilled “100 percent.”
He acknowledged that demonstrators had maintained their protest for 30 days, calling it a record, but stressed that protests should not continue indefinitely.
“You have already set a record by protesting for 30 days. Protests cannot continue for a lifetime. Now it is time to end the protest and come to the negotiating table,” he said.
Bilawal emphasized that political and constitutional rights should be pursued through the existing democratic system rather than through prolonged confrontation.
“Rights have to be secured while remaining within the system,” he said, adding that he did not want to see “MQM-style politics or the politics of the MQM founder” in Azad Kashmir.
The PPP chairman also announced that he would remain in Azad Kashmir until the elections, signaling his party’s active involvement in the electoral campaign.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a telephone conversation with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to reports, the two leaders agreed to pursue a joint strategy on the Kashmir cause, reflecting continued political coordination on issues related to the disputed region.
Bilawal’s remarks come amid heightened political activity in Azad Kashmir as parties intensify campaigning ahead of the elections, with debates continuing over governance, constitutional issues, and the future political direction of the territory.
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