ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has proposed granting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) representation in Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly without harming the Kashmir cause.
Speaking in an interview with anchorperson Saad Zulfiqar Khan on Kashmir Digital, Bhutto said that the people of AJK and GB should be given more constitutional, political and representative rights without compromising on the right to self-determination.
He added that the issue should be discussed through a constitutional conference involving political stakeholders, constitutional experts and international legal observers before any final decision is made.
He also said a majority of people in Gilgit-Baltistan support becoming an interim province to secure constitutional rights similar to those enjoyed by Pakistan’s provinces.
Former Foreign Minister said the PPP has always stood by the Kashmir cause, recalling that party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had pledged to continue supporting Kashmir for thousands of years if necessary. “The Kashmir cause is a fundamental part of the ideology and history of the PPP,” he said.
Answering the question related to the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Chairman PPP said that protest is the right of every citizen, but putting the people in trouble is not the solution to any problem.
He added that the governments of Pakistan and AJK must fulfill their constitutional responsibilities while ensuring that law enforcement action remains focused only on those involved in unlawful activities.
“The enforcement of the law should be limited to those who actually break the law, and ordinary citizens should not have to bear the consequences,” he said.
“Our priority is the protection of the people, the solution of problems, and a way that will provide relief to the people of Azad Kashmir, including Poonch,” he stated.
“Restoration of internet in AJK”
Talking about the suspension of internet services in the region, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the decision does not lie with the AJK government, noting that internet services are controlled by federal institutions.
Bilawal also called for the restoration of internet services, arguing that uninterrupted internet access was essential for election campaigning and ensuring transparent polls ahead of the general elections.
“Collective punishment is not the solution to any problem,” he said, urging the federal government to immediately restore internet services in areas unaffected by the protests.
He made it clear that the internet shutdown is affecting the common citizen, economy, business, education and electoral process.
He said he would write to the federal government and the Election Commission to seek the immediate restoration of internet services so that the election campaign, public relations and daily life can be brought back to normal.
On the question of his earlier proposal of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in AJK, PPP Chairman said that the formation of the commission aims to establish a credible forum where all parties can present facts, grievances can be heard, and accountability is ensured through due process.
“The first step is to normalize the situation and restore trust,” he said.
He suggested that if all parties agree to the formation of such a commission, then the protesters should temporarily suspend their demonstrations and the federal government should refrain from further enforcement measures to create an environment conducive to dialogue.
He said the move would help restore normal life in Azad Kashmir and allow outstanding issues to be resolved through merit, consultation and mutual trust. “We should promote truth, reconciliation, and responsible behavior instead of differences.”
In response to a question, Bilawal Bhutto said that he considers the success of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif a success for Pakistan, but the “irresponsible statements of some federal ministers in the recent crisis in AJK have complicated matters rather than improving them.”
Differences of opinion have their place, but those in responsible positions should avoid statements that increase tension, Bilawal said, while referring to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement about the identity of residents of Poonch as Kashmiris.
“If a federal minister does not apologize for his inappropriate words or reconsider his position, it gives the impression that the federal government is endorsing these statements,” the former foreign minister said.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that the solution to the problem does not lie in provocation but in responsible behavior, dialogue, and putting the interests of the people first.
