In reply to Nawaz, Bilawal says people of AJK not ready to 'bargain away their rights' in elections

MUZAFFARABAD: Responding to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s recent jibe, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said that whether it’s Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, their residents were “not ready to bargain away their rights”.

Bilawal’s response comes a day before the first phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is set to begin, with Mirpur voting on Monday. It also comes amid allegations of pre-poll rigging by the PPP after the PML-N gave 10 e-buses to Muzaffarabad and Mirpur as a “gift”.

Addressing a public rally in AJK’s Mirpur on Friday as part of his party’s election campaign, Nawaz had named Bilawal and said Kashmir should not be mistaken for Kashmore, nor Mirpur for Mirpurkhas — districts of Sindh where the PPP has been in power for years.

Subsequently, Bilawal shared a video statement on social media, beginning his message with, “Mian sahib, please don’t take offence”, as he tagged Nawaz’s X account in his post.

“Whether it’s Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, not only do their names resemble each other; their temperament matches too, their honour matches too, and so does the courage to stand up for their rights,” he said.

The PPP chairman added: “Whether it’s Kashmore or Kashmir, no one would let anyone rob them politically of their right to governance and right to ownership.

“Whether it’s Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, their people are not ready to bargain away their rights. They want to make their own decisions. They will not hand over power over their future to any other city, nor any other province.”

The Bhutto scion asserted, “Just as in the previous elections the people of Kashmir and Kashmore rejected the Muslim League, just as the [PML-N] was swept away in Mirpur and Mirpurkhas, the people will repeat that same verdict in the upcoming elections too.”

Referring to tomorrow’s polls in Mirpur, Bilawal expressed his belief that the “Kashmir’s verdict would be in favour of the PPP and just like in Mirpurkhas, the people of Mirpur would hunt the lion with the arrow”.

In another post before that, Bilawal also directly commented on Nawaz and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s announcement of “gifting” electric buses and hospitals on wheels to people of AJK before the election.

Ten e-buses arrived in Muzaffarabad on Saturday, while more reached Mirpur today, the PML-N said.

In his post, Bilawal said, “You are being promised buses, hospitals, roads, and an airport. I welcome every bus, every hospital, every road, and every airport.

“But something built with the public’s money is not a gift from any politician — it is the public’s right.”

“The PPP has not just made promises,” he remarked, emphasising that the party — which is currently in power in the region — had included 3,308 additional teachers, a cardiac hospital, new roads, IT centres, and employment opportunities for the youth in AJK’s budget.

“I myself secured funding for Mirpur Airport in the previous federal budget. The very stadium where our opponents hold their rallies was also built during the PPP’s tenure.”

The PPP chairman reiterated that he wanted to secure for the people of Kashmir the right to governance, the right to ownership, and the right to employment.

“The same rights that every Pakistani citizen is entitled to. Then they won’t need gifts of this sort. They will arrange their own development.”

Bilawal urged his supporters to come out in large numbers on polling day to cast their votes for his party.

“Progress too! Authority too! Employment too! And Kashmir’s decision by Kashmiris!”

Mirpur division gears up for first phase of polls

Separately, AJK Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on Sunday urged voters in Mirpur division to turn out in large numbers for the first phase of the general elections tomorrow, in which more than 1.4 million registered voters will elect representatives from 13 constituencies.

In a video message, the CEC said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the polls, with security forces and Quick Response Force teams deployed at polling stations and security also being ensured for voters travelling to and from polling stations.

He warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the polling process would face legal action.

According to the AJK Election Commission, 1,400,437 voters — including 724,811 men and 675,626 women — were registered in the division’s 13 constituencies.

Polling will be held at 2,316 polling stations, of which 1,241 have been declared highly sensitive, 724 sensitive and 351 normal. A total of 288 candidates are contesting the elections.

Election monitoring has been organised through 13 zones and 205 sectors across the division, while 18,560 personnel from police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed under a three-tier security plan.

Under the arrangement, police will provide the first layer of security, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Federal Constabulary the second, and the Pakistan Army the third.

Around 2,100 army personnel will also be deployed, while Quick Response Force teams will remain on standby to respond to any emergency.

Chief Secretary Khushal Khan and Election Commission Secretary Raja Muhammad Shakeel informed the media that all arrangements had been finalised for the first phase of the elections, with polling material delivered to returning officers, election personnel deployed and security put on high alert.

Addressing a joint press conference in Muzaffarabad earlier in the day, the chief secretary said electioneering had reached its peak across the region, with corner meetings, banners, posters and party flags visible in various areas, while the leadership of major federal political parties had also visited AJK to campaign.

He warned that authorities were closely monitoring misleading propaganda about the elections on social media and said strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the polling process or disturb public order.

He maintained that all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure transparent, free and peaceful elections.

Shakeel said around 22,000 election personnel had been deployed and polling material had already reached polling stations. He added that CEC Mughal had recently visited Mirpur to review the arrangements and expressed satisfaction over the preparations.

He clarified that an old video calling for an election boycott was being circulated on social media to create a false impression, insisting that election campaigns had continued peacefully across all districts without any untoward incident.

Shakeel said all political parties and candidates had welcomed the Election Commission’s code of conduct, while members of the public themselves were lodging complaints against elements attempting to obstruct the electoral process, reflecting public confidence in the election system.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission allowed registered political parties, candidates and election agents to use automated telephone calls, commonly known as robocalls, for election campaigning until 48 hours before polling day.

In a statement, the commission said the decision was taken after considering an application submitted by PPP AJK President Chaudhry Yasin and PPP Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari under Clause 17 of the Election Code of Conduct 2026.

The commission said the permission allows campaign messages to be delivered through pre-recorded voice calls sent automatically to large numbers of voters until the commencement of the mandatory 48-hour campaign silence before polling.