MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged the state to resolve the blockade affecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying that if Pakistan can help facilitate peace between the United States and Iran and contribute to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, it should also ensure that Kashmir’s blocked routes are reopened.
Addressing a public gathering in Dadyal, Azad Kashmir, Bilawal described the upcoming elections as among the most significant in the region’s history, calling them a test for the Pakistani state. He said politicians had failed to effectively raise the voice of the Kashmiri people and warned that non-democratic forces tend to emerge whenever political crises deepen.
Bilawal said every Kashmiri and Pakistani is worried about the current situation, adding that former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had always stood with the people of Kashmir. He expressed confidence that the issues facing the people of Azad Kashmir could be resolved through dialogue.
Referring to the ongoing protests, he said demonstrators had written to him, prompting him to propose the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He added that if such a commission were established, he would ask protesters to end their demonstrations, but said no response had yet been received to the proposal.
The PPP chairman argued that even if some protesters had acted wrongly, the entire region should not be punished. “Those responsible should be held accountable, but the whole of Kashmir should not suffer because of the actions of a few,” he said.
Bilawal emphasized that ordinary Kashmiris should be able to conduct business and daily life without disruption, reiterating his call for the reopening of blocked routes in the region.
Speaking on India, he recalled that he had previously referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “Butcher of Gujarat,” claiming that India had placed a bounty on his head after the remarks. He vowed that attempts to consolidate India’s control over Kashmir would be resisted.
He also said that decisions regarding refugee seats and voting rights should be made by constitutional institutions. Criticizing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bilawal alleged that some of its leaders did not consider areas such as Rawalakot, Kotli, and Mirpur to be part of Kashmir.
Bilawal further called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to clarify whether statements made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reflected the federal government’s official policy on Kashmir. He also criticized remarks by another federal minister claiming that 12 Kashmir Assembly seats were already secured, saying such an attitude showed a lack of concern for the democratic process.
The PPP chairman demanded the removal of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif from the federal cabinet and urged the prime minister to clearly state whether the minister’s remarks represented the government’s official position on the Kashmir issue.
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