Bilawal slams Kh Asif’s remarks on Rawalakot Kashmiris; questions his place in cabinet

*Click the Title above to view complete article on https://www.24newshd.tv/.

NA sees heated exchange over Kashmir issue as PPP targets defence minister: Bilawal says defence minister’s remarks added fuel to fire in Kashmir: Bilawal tells MQM to leave govt as cabinet members giving only a lollipop to them: Kh Asif says his remarks were evidence-based and he needs not apologize: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf apologizes to people of Rawalakot on minister’s behalf: Rana Sanaullah welcomes Maulana Fazlur Rehman's mediation efforts

2026-06-24T14:15:00+05:00 News Desk

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday sharply criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his remarks about Kashmiris from Rawalakot, telling the National Assembly that anyone who does not recognise them as Kashmiris should not remain in the cabinet, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Speaking during the House proceedings, Bilawal said some ministers were making the prime minister's job harder at a time when he was trying to steer the country out of its difficulties. He said the defence minister’s comments had added fuel to the fire in Kashmir and complained that Khawaja Asif was not even prepared to apologise.

Bilawal also described the minister’s remark about taking 12 seats from Pakistan as deeply regrettable. He said that after such controversial statements, it would be difficult for anyone to explain continued support for the government. He urged the prime minister to keep his cabinet under control.

The PPP chairman also advised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to leave the federal government, saying that its Karachi-based members were being misled by cabinet colleagues and that their demands were not being met. He accused the government of offering them nothing more than false promises and urged them not to keep relying on them.

Bilawal further called for local government elections to be held across the country before any constitutional amendment was carried out. He also announced that local elections would be held in Gilgit-Baltistan as soon as a government was formed there.

Bilawal said Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav did not come to Pakistan for tourism or peaceful purposes, but his intentions and activities are in front of everyone. He said that the nexus between India and Israel has been trying to harm Pakistan's interests.

Earlier, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had told the House that Khawaja Asif’s interview had hurt public sentiment. He said Kashmir was a highly sensitive issue and needed careful handling. He added that the situation in Azad Kashmir called for calm rather than sweeping statements and said he apologised to the people of Rawalakot on the minister’s behalf.

Responding on a point of order, Khawaja Asif said that a birth certificate alone does not make someone Kashmiri or Pakistani. He said he had made his remarks with evidence and had no regret over them.

Khawaja Asif also invited the PTI to sign the Charter of Democracy, emphasising that any necessary improvements can be incorporated into the document.

The prime minister's political adviser Rana Sanaullah said the government would welcome mediation by Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the Kashmir issue. He said a banned joint action committee had put forward 38 demands last year and claimed that work had been done on every one of them. He added that the recent protest call was aimed at stopping elections in Azad Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present in the National Assembly during the debate.

View More News