Muzaffarabad, July 30, 2026: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that the federal government’s “countdown” would begin if the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections were rigged, stressing that the people’s mandate must be respected and protected.
Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, Bilawal said the mandate of the people should be decided through the ballot and not by force, urging that any attempt to steal public votes must not be concealed.
His remarks came amid heightened political tensions following the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections in the Mirpur division, where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured nine of the 13 seats while the PPP won four.
The PPP and its coalition partner at the Centre, PML-N, have traded allegations of electoral manipulation since the July 27 polling. The PPP accused the ruling party of rigging the elections, while PML-N leaders rejected the allegations. Polling in the Muzaffarabad division is scheduled for August 2, followed by voting in the Poonch division on August 10.
Bilawal announced that the PPP would convene a constitutional convention after the elections, bringing together representatives from the government, opposition, Kashmiri refugees, lawyers and civil society to deliberate on constitutional and governance issues concerning AJK.
He said the essence of democracy lies in ensuring that candidates who receive the people’s votes are declared winners, adding that the future of Kashmir should be determined by the people of the region through their elected legislative assembly.
The PPP chairman also called for safeguarding the genuine representation of Kashmiri refugees, warning that any manipulation of refugee votes would further delay the resolution of their longstanding issues.
He stressed that Kashmir should have representation in institutions where decisions affecting its future are made and pledged to secure the constitutional, political and economic rights of the people of the region. He also said employment opportunities generated through Kashmir’s natural resources should primarily benefit local youth.
Reiterating an earlier demand, Bilawal called for the establishment of a truth commission to address the causes of protests and unrest in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
