Pak Army is "red line", Bilawal says AJK situation would hurt Kashmir cause

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Wednesday that the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) since last month was very concerning and the longer it persisted, the more harm would be caused to the Kashmir cause and country’s reputation. 

Addressing party’s office bearers and ticket holders in Muzaffarabad ahead of July 27 elections., Bilawal said AJK has been seized by protests and deadly clashes between law enforcers and protesters from the recently proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) ahead of the polls. 

He said the use of inappropriate language against Kashmiris was hurtful and warned that irresponsible statements had aggravated tensions in the valley. PPP chairman emphasized that no one could blackmail the state. 

Bilawal made it clear that Pakistan Armed Forces were a "red line" and said criticism targeting the military would not be tolerated. He also urged politicians and protesters in AJK to exercise restraint in their choice of words, warning that extremist attitudes and violence could never secure public rights. 

Bilawal rejected politics resembling MQM, saying such a model could not be allowed to flourish in AJK. He also condemned political parties that have boycotted the electoral process. 

Talking about visit, Bilawal said he had come to AJK not only to lead the PPP's election campaign and encourage party candidates, but also to send a message that Pakistan's political parties particularly the PPP, stand with the people of Kashmir during difficult times. 

It is pertinent to mention that the matter at the centre of the tensions is JAAC’s demand for the abolition of 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947.