Dadyal, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, July 17, 2026: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday called for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to resolve the ongoing political unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), while demanding the removal of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif if his recent remarks on Kashmir did not reflect the federal government’s official policy.
Addressing an election rally in Dadyal ahead of the July 27 AJK elections, Bilawal said all disputes in the region could be resolved through dialogue and democratic means rather than confrontation.
Referring to the ongoing protests and unrest in parts of AJK, he said demonstrators had approached him with their concerns, prompting him to propose the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help address the crisis.
“I have suggested establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. If it is formed, I will ask the protesters to suspend their protest,” Bilawal said, adding that he had not yet received any response to the proposal.
The PPP chairman urged both the authorities and protesters to avoid actions that disrupt the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
“The government has the responsibility to maintain its writ, but it cannot punish all Kashmiris for the actions of a few individuals,” he said, warning that restrictions affecting the supply of food and other essential goods ultimately hurt the public.
Bilawal also called on the federal government to restore normalcy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“If the state of Pakistan can help bring peace between the United States and Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, then it should also reopen Kashmir,” he said.
Describing the July 27 elections as the most significant in AJK’s history, Bilawal said they represented an opportunity for the people to make their voices heard and for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles.
He said politicians had failed to effectively convey the concerns of the Kashmiri people to Islamabad, pledging that the PPP would become their voice if elected.
Bilawal announced that his party would convene a constitutional convention after the elections to seek public input on constitutional reforms, while stressing that decisions regarding refugee seats and electoral matters should be taken through constitutional institutions.
He also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to clarify the federal government’s position following recent remarks by federal ministers concerning Kashmir and refugee seats.
“If the defence minister’s remarks do not represent the government’s policy, then he should be removed from office,” Bilawal said, referring to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Without naming another federal minister, Bilawal also criticized reported comments claiming that “12 Kashmir seats are in our pocket,” saying such statements undermined the democratic process.
“The decision on Kashmir is not in anyone’s pocket. It lies only in the hands of Kashmir’s youth,” he said, urging voters to support the PPP in what he described as a crucial election for the future of the region.
Bilawal’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir following protests over refugee seats and the government’s decision to declare the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act ahead of the upcoming elections.
