PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday promised to be the voice of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the Centre and will try to bridge the gap between the federal capital and the people.
Addressing a public rally in Dadyal, AJK, Bilawal said politics was not merely about assuming power; this election is nothing short of a test for the state of Azad Kashmir. He said that it was the most significant election in the region's history. We must ensure that the voice of Kashmir reaches Islamabad.
He termed the prevailing situation a test for the AJK government, the state of Pakistan and all political parties.
“It is the primary duty of a politician to be the voice of the people in the Centre and on international forums, but they are not fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said, adding that politicians have to act as a bridge between the people of AJK and the Centre, but this is not happening.
Bilawal emphasised that this was not an issue limited to AJK; Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were facing the same fate. “If the people of AJK give me the mandate, I promise that I will be your voice in Islamabad and globally,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairman stressed that there was no issue that cannot be resolved politically and peacefully, and affirmed his commitment to resolving the AJK issue.
He said that PPP proposed the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the AJK issue.
He said if such commission is acceptable to the government and the protesters in AJK, then this can be a way to resolve issues.
Bilawal also urged the protesters to halt their demonstrations and the government to refrain from taking further measures until the proposed truth and reconciliation commission was formed and completed its work.
However, the PPP chairman clarified that neither the government nor the protesters had responded to his proposal.
“If this is not the way, I ask the government and protesters to tell me what the alternative is,” he said.
Bilawal said that protesting is the right of the people, but protests that disrupt the supply of food, fuel and medicine do not affect the government; only the people bear the burden.