State must choose between national and PML-N’s interests, says Bilawal

• Bilawal questions attacks on polling stations.
• PPP chief vows to “protect” every vote.
• Calls for transparent polls, inquiry commission.
  

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday said the state must decide whether national interest or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) interest was more important, while criticising the conduct of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.

Addressing a workers’ convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal thanked the people of Mirpur for their support and said they had given the PPP a majority through their votes. He said the party’s responsibility was now to protect those votes.

In the first phase of the elections, the PML-N secured victory in nine constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, according to unofficial and provisional results, while the PPP won four seats of the total 13 constituencies across Mirpur.

Bilawal questioned whether the situation in Azad Kashmir could be described as democracy. He said PPP candidates had secured a majority in line with the public’s votes and expectations.

Referring to PPP leader Chaudhry Yasin, Bilawal said he was contesting from two constituencies and questioned how he could lose the seat in his own village.

He alleged that “the same things” had happened as in the previous elections, claiming that gunfire had occurred then and that the PPP had protected its mandate. “We will not allow anyone to snatch people’s rights this time,” he said.

He questioned how attacks could have taken place at 30 polling stations despite security arrangements. “If it had happened in one or two constituencies, it could be understood, but how can attacks at 30 polling stations be justified?” he said.

Bilawal alleged that the phased election process had been organised to facilitate rigging and that attacks on polling stations were carried out to “steal votes”.

The PPP chairman said the state appeared to be prioritising the PML-N’s interests over the national interest, adding that Kashmir, Pakistan and their people were suffering as a result. He said the PPP stood with the state of Pakistan in the national interest, “not in the interest of the PML-N”.

He urged authorities to “open their eyes” and asked what had happened to Pakistan in the name of protecting the PML-N’s interests.

Bilawal said Azad Kashmir must never be allowed to resemble Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), adding that internet shutdowns created such an impression.

He also questioned whether all political parties and the people of Kashmir were unaware of what was happening.

Bilawal said the story of alleged election rigging had not begun today and claimed that giving preference to the PML-N’s interests over the national interest was not a new development.

He said the authorities had not acted in the interest of Azad Kashmir and added that he was not referring to the allegations surrounding the ongoing protests in Kashmir.

He said the dispute could have been resolved peacefully without any loss of life and claimed that certain promises had not been fulfilled for specific reasons.

According to Bilawal, the authorities could have acted in the interests of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan but instead chose the interests of the PML-N.

The PPP chairman said his party had never demanded the abolition of the reserved seats, alleging that they had repeatedly been used for political interests.

He said he had never argued that all demands of the protesters should be accepted but maintained that a political solution was possible. He added that protesters should also have adopted constitutional means.

Bilawal said he had told everyone that he had a path to restore peace and resolve the problems faced by Kashmiris.

He regretted the loss of lives, saying neither the government nor the protesters appeared willing to step back because the issue had become one of ego.

Calling for free and transparent elections, Bilawal said the PPP’s policy of reconciliation would have to be accepted to safeguard the Kashmir cause.

He said the party could not watch its own workers lose their lives and claimed young people had been brought out by promises, while some had protested because internet services had been suspended.

He also called for the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the situation.

Bilawal alleged that a boycott campaign had been orchestrated, describing it as “the biggest conspiracy”. He claimed PTI representatives had deceived their own leadership in a manner “unprecedented in history”.

Urging people to vote, Bilawal said they should cast their ballots for Kashmir, regardless of which political party they supported.

He asked PPP workers to work day and night to secure the party’s victory and said they would have to work twice as hard to prevent alleged rigging and foil what he described as the opponents’ plan.

He said the speeches being delivered would disappoint people and claimed Kashmiris would conclude that they were repeatedly deceived and elections were held through rigging.

Bilawal said the people of Kashmir would never allow their mandate to be stolen and repeated the slogan: “No to stealing Kashmir’s mandate.”

He pledged to restore the rights that he said had been taken away from voters in Mirpur and vowed that no one would be allowed to “steal” the elections scheduled in Muzaffarabad on August 2.

Describing the PPP as a peaceful party, Bilawal said its workers wanted to participate in elections peacefully and within the constitutional system.

However, he added that attacks on party workers and polling stations could not be tolerated, saying: “We are peaceful and want to remain peaceful; otherwise I am also President Zardari’s son.”