AJK Assembly Condemns Federal Ministers as Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Warns Against Election Rigging

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly has unanimously adopted resolutions condemning statements made by federal ministers regarding recent unrest in Rawalakot and endorsing the creation of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the violence. One resolution specifically censured Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for remarks that allegedly refused to recognize the people of Rawalakot as Kashmiris, which the assembly stated hurt public sentiment.

These developments occur amid phased elections in AJK marked by security concerns and allegations of rigging in the Mirpur division. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned on Thursday that any attempt to steal the AJK election would begin a countdown for the federal government. Speaking at a rally in Muzaffarabad, he stated that if his mandate were stolen, he would come for the government's throne.

Bilawal also called on the PTI to abandon boycott politics and join him in pursuing parliamentary reforms to ensure fair elections across Pakistan and Kashmir. He emphasized his commitment to providing sovereignty, ownership, and employment to the people of AJK, including proportional representation for refugees in the AJK Assembly.

Additionally, residents in Islamabad held a rally to show solidarity with protesters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The AJK assembly's resolutions further called on the Election Commission to address irregularities in Mirpur before new polling takes place and warned that continued confrontation could allow India to exploit the situation internationally.