Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday appealed to protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to peacefully end their demonstrations, urging all stakeholders to resolve issues through dialogue and constitutional means.
Historic Moment
In a statement, Bilawal said the approaching signing of the Islamabad Agreement represented a “historic moment” and stressed that ongoing unrest in AJK was damaging not only the Kashmiri cause but also Pakistan’s international image at a time when global attention was focused on the country.
He warned that continued instability could provide hostile elements, including what he described as an “India-Israel nexus,” an opportunity to exploit the situation for their own interests.
Appeal for Peaceful Resolution
The PPP chairman urged protesters to end their demonstrations peacefully and called on those who had taken the law into their own hands to surrender to local authorities, allowing the legal process to proceed.
Bilawal emphasized that all political grievances should be addressed through democratic, constitutional and peaceful channels, stating that parliament and political dialogue, rather than street protests, were the appropriate forums for resolving disputes.
Election Schedule and Truth Commission
He said the PPP had already approached the Election Commission to reconsider the early announcement of the election schedule. He added that the party remained committed to a political solution and would seek the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address outstanding grievances and ensure a fair resolution.
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Call for Stability
The PPP chairman further stressed that the people of Kashmir should not be subjected to repeated cycles of protest, confrontation and uncertainty. He also noted that if all stakeholders, including the federal government, agreed, the AJK government could review certain notifications issued against protesting groups at an appropriate time.
While emphasizing that there would be no compromise on the rule of law and accountability for illegal acts, he said it was equally important to ensure that innocent individuals were not penalized for the actions of others.
