MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the future of Kashmir should be determined by the people of Kashmir, but stressed that no constitutional change can be imposed through armed force or prolonged sit-in protests.
Addressing party office-bearers and workers of the PPP in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the current situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir required restraint and dialogue, warning that continued instability could harm the broader Kashmir cause.
“The people of Kashmir will decide the future of Kashmir, but no constitutional amendment can be brought about through guns or sit-ins,” he said.
Bilawal argued that the present political crisis in Azad Kashmir had been triggered by statements made by federal ministers and said it was now the responsibility of the federal government to help resolve the situation.
He added that offensive language directed at Kashmiris was deeply hurtful and should be avoided.
The PPP chairman also said no one sitting in Islamabad should have the authority to decide who qualifies as a Kashmiri, emphasizing that such matters belong to the people of the region.
He maintained that the current tensions could not be resolved through the use of force and stressed the need for political engagement.
“If the people of Kashmir shed sweat, we will shed blood,” Bilawal said, expressing solidarity with the people of the region.
Appealing to demonstrators, he urged them to end their protests and sit-ins, while acknowledging that peaceful protest is a democratic right.
However, he said violent demonstrations and unrest could not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Bilawal also warned against allowing militancy or violence to gain a foothold in Kashmir, saying he did not want the region to experience the kind of politics associated with violence that, in his view, had previously affected Karachi.
He reiterated that his party supports a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and called on political leaders, Kashmiri representatives, and protest organizers to pursue dialogue and constitutional methods.
According to Bilawal, issues relating to Azad Kashmir should be resolved within the region through political consultation rather than confrontation.
Commenting on national security, the PPP chairman described the Pakistan Armed Forces as a “red line” and said criticism that undermines the institution would not be acceptable.
He also stated that no group could overpower the state and praised the role played by Pakistan’s military leadership in efforts to maintain peace and stability.
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