ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday announced an electoral alliance for the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, describing the partnership as the beginning of a new phase in political cooperation between the two parties.
Alliance Marks New Chapter in PPP-JUI-F Relations
Speaking to journalists after meeting Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence, Bilawal said the alliance marked a fresh chapter in relations between the PPP and JUI-F and reflected their shared commitment to democratic politics and public welfare. He said both parties believed that the issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means.
Bilawal stressed that the legitimate concerns of the Kashmiri people should be addressed through parliament and the electoral process rather than through unrest or confrontation on the streets. He thanked Maulana Fazlur Rehman for hosting the meeting and praised his political experience and statesmanship, saying he had always benefited from the JUI-F chief’s guidance and wisdom.
Bilawal Commends Fazlur Rehman's Constructive Role
He also commended Fazlur Rehman for playing a constructive role during difficult political circumstances. The PPP chairman said that if the JUI-F chief was prepared to play a positive and constructive role for the country while sitting in the opposition, then the government and treasury benches should also remain open to dialogue and engagement with him.
Referring to the upcoming AJK elections, Bilawal said the election schedule had already been announced and emphasised that the polls must be conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner so that the people of Kashmir could elect their representatives without controversy. He urged political stakeholders to prioritise democratic struggle over protests, strikes and long marches, saying national and public issues should be resolved through dialogue, parliamentary institutions and the ballot box.
Future Coalition Governments Envisioned
Bilawal expressed the hope that the PPP and JUI-F would further strengthen their political cooperation and eventually form coalition governments together in Azad Kashmir as well as in Balochistan and Sindh. He requested Maulana Fazlur Rehman to hold consultations within his party so that both sides could work together wherever electoral cooperation and political alliances were possible.
Addressing the prevailing political situation in Azad Kashmir, Bilawal said resolving the ongoing challenges required a collective effort by the federal government, the Azad Kashmir government and all political parties. Appealing for calm, he urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands, stressing that those resorting to violence or unlawful actions should be discouraged.
Commitment to Democratic Resolution
“The solution to public issues lies in parliament and the democratic electoral process, not on the streets,” Bilawal said, reiterating his party’s commitment to resolving political disputes through constitutional and democratic means. The alliance is seen as a strategic move ahead of the AJK polls, with both parties aiming to consolidate their support bases in the region.
