MIRPUR, Azad Jammu and Kashmir – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a massive election rally in Mirpur on July 22, 2026, vowing to secure the right to rule, ownership of natural resources, and employment for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Declaring Mirpur a “second home,” he emphasized the PPP’s three-generation bond with the region and praised a new generation of Kashmiris committed to the cause.
Speaking to a packed crowd, Bilawal highlighted the party’s historical leadership, from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 1973 Constitution and nuclear program to Benazir Bhutto’s defiance of dictators and Asif Ali Zardari’s 18th Amendment. He positioned the PPP as the only party with a proven record on governance, contrasting it with the PML-N’s alleged divisive rhetoric and hollow promises.
Bilawal outlined the PPP’s core pledges for Kashmir: the right to rule, the right to ownership of natural resources, and the right to employment. He stressed that Kashmiris deserve the same rights as citizens in Pakistan and India, without compromising their struggle for self-determination. The PPP, he said, seeks observer representation for AJK in key national institutions like the Council of Common Interests (CCI), National Finance Commission (NFC), National Assembly, and Senate, echoing Barrister Sultan’s representation at the OIC secured by Benazir Bhutto.
“The people of Kashmir deserve the same rights enjoyed by the people of Pakistan and India, without compromising their internationally recognized struggle for the right self-determination,” Bilawal said.
Critique of PML-N and Federal Policies
Bilawal sharply criticized the PML-N accusing it of introducing legislation to strip Kashmir of its rights, including proposals to transfer the power to elect the Kashmir Prime Minister to Pakistan’s premier. He denounced the PML-N’s “divisive politics” and failure to deliver on promises, citing the Gilgit-Baltistan elections where voters rejected PML-N’s pledge to “turn GB into Lahore.”
He also condemned the suspension of internet services in Kashmir, calling it collective punishment reminiscent of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) era. Bilawal revealed he had directed the PPP President AJK to formally question the Election Commission about holding free elections without internet access, and proposed an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address protests.
Call for Unity and Peaceful Protest
Acknowledging ongoing protests, Bilawal urged a peaceful resolution: “A protest remains legitimate only when it remains peaceful.” He called on protestors to suspend activities and the state to halt actions until the commission’s findings. He also criticized federal ministers for “irresponsible statements” that worsened tensions, suggesting the PML-N’s silence at a Muzaffarabad rally indicated official endorsement of those views.
Appeal to Voters
Bilawal urged Kashmiris to break with old loyalties and vote for the PPP’s arrow symbol, arguing that the PML-N’s boasts about development in Punjab ignore the realities of regions like Cholistan and Potohar. He expressed confidence that, as in Gilgit-Baltistan, the PPP would win in AJK, and endorsed candidates Yasir Sultan, Qasim Majeed, Sohaib Arshad, and Afsar Shahid for prosperity and progress.
“The entire Kashmir awaits the decision the people of Mirpur will make,” Bilawal concluded. “Stamp the arrow if you believe in the right to rule, the right to ownership, and in defending the identity of Kashmir.”
